Table 1.
Sociodemographic, anthropometric, dietary and biochemical characteristics of pregnant south Indian women (n = 366).
| Parameter | |
|---|---|
|
Sociodemographic characteristics Age (years)(n= 366) 1 |
22.6 ± 3.7 |
| Level of Education (n=364) 2 | |
| No formal education | 15 (4.1%) |
| Finished High School (10th grade) | 257 (70.5%) |
| Post High School | 71 (19.5%) |
| University degree and above | 21 (5.8%) |
| Occupation (n=364) 2 | |
| Unemployed | 305 (83.8%) |
| Unskilled Worker | 21 (5.8%) |
| Skilled Worker | 27 (7.4%) |
| Others (Secretarial jobs, teachers, shop owners) business, shop owner | 11 (3.1%) |
| Total monthly household income(INR)(n=365) 3 | 6000 (4500, 9000) |
| Parity (n=366) 2 | |
| 0 | 236 (64.5%) |
| ≥ 1 | 130 (35.6%) |
| Gestational age at recruitment by LMP (weeks)(n=366) 1 | 11.2 ± 2.4 |
| Anthropometric characteristics (n=364) 1 | |
| Weight (kg) | 47.8 ± 8.1 |
| Height (cm) | 153.0 ± 5.6 |
| Body mass index (kg/m2) | 20.4 ± 3.3 |
| Dietary intake characteristics (n=362) 3 | |
| Energy (Kcal/day) | 1695 (1447, 1977) |
| Protein (g/day) | 51.1 (42.4, 58.9) |
| Fat (g/day) | 46.2 (38.3, 55.1) |
| Carbohydrates (g/day) | 269 (225, 315) |
| Vitamin B12 (μg/day) | 1.25 (0.86, 1.96) |
| Folate (μg/day) | 272 (226, 318) |
| Intake of B12 or folate supplements | Nil |
| Biochemical characteristics | |
| Hemoglobin (g/dL) (n = 366) 1 | 11.5 ± 1.5 |
| Anemia (Hb < 11.0 g/dL) (n = 366) 2 | 111 (30.3%) |
| Macrocytosis (MCV > 90) | 37 (10.1%) |
| Anemia and MCV > 90 2 | 2 (0.5%) |
| Plasma B12 level (pmol/L) (n = 352) 3 | 149.3 (109.4, 204.5) |
| Methylmalonic acid level (μmol/L) (n = 360) 3 | 0.47 (0.28, 0.67) |
| Homocysteine level (μmol/L) (n = 360) 3 | 9.22 (5.74, 15.08) |
| Erythrocyte folate (nmol/L) (n = 359) 3 | 386.9 (290.6, 496.4) |
| Plasma B12 < 150 pmol/L (n = 352) 2 | 179 (51.1%) |
| Prevalence of elevated MMA levels (MMA > 0.26 μmol/L) (n = 360) 2 | 273 (75.8%) |
| Prevalence of elevated homocysteine levels (Hcy > 10.0 μmol/L) (n = 360) 2 | 157 (43.3%) |
| Prevalence of impaired vitamin B12 status (plasma B12 < 150 pmol/L & MMA>0.26 μmol/L) (n = 349) 2 | 148 (42.4%) |
| Prevalence of low erythrocyte folate levels (erythrocyte folate < 283 nmol/L) (n = 351) 2 | 80 (22.2%) |
| Prevalence of Giardia lamblia infections (n = 328) 2 | 10 (3.0%) |
LMP, Last menstrual period, MCV: Mean Corpuscular Volume
1
Mean ± SD
2
Numbers (%)
3
Median (25th, 75th percentile)