. Material and Methods. The sample included 8 111 children aged 1 to 12 years, and was nationaly representative by rural and urban strata and by four geographical regions. Capillary hemoglobin was measured using a portable photometer (HemoCue). The analysis of the determining factors of anemia was performed by odds ratios derived from a logistic regression model and multiple regression models. Results. The prevalence of anemia was 50% in infants <2 years of age, with no significant differences between urban and rural strata or among regions. It varied between 14 and 22% in 6-11 year-old children and was higher in the South region and among the indigenous children. Dietary intake of iron was 50% of the recommended daily allowance in children <2 years of age, but not in older children. Phytate (≈500-800 mg/d) and tannin (≈19 mg/d) intakes were very high in children over 7 years of age. Hemoglobin was positively associated with nutritional status of children (p=0.01), socioeconomic status (p range 0.05-0.001), duration of lactation in children under 2 years of age (p=0.1), and iron and calcium intake (p=0.02), but not with folic acid or vitamin B12 intake. Hemoglobin was negatively associated with maternal education (p=0.01) in older children, but not in those under 2 years of age. Conclusions. We present evidence of an alarming national epidemic of anemia, particularly marked

Objective. To describe the epidemiology of Vitamin A and C and folic acid deficiencies and their association with sociodemographic and dietary factors in a national probabilistic sample of Mexican women and children. Material and Methods. This is a probabilistic sample from the National Nutrition Survey 1999 (ENN-99) including 1 966 children and 920 women. Vitamins A and C were measured in serum by high-performance liquid chromatography, and folic acid in total blood by a microbiological method. Determinants for such deficiencies were explored by multiple regression models. Results. Vitamin A deficiency (retinol <10 µg/dl) was rare in both children and women. But subclinical deficiency (retinol >10 and <20 µg/dl) was present in 25% of children. The likelihood of subclinical deficiency of vitamin A was less in older children (OR=0.98, p=0.01) and in women with higher body mass index (OR=0.93, p=0.01). About 30% of children <2 years of age and 40% of women were vitamin C deficient. The likelihood of vitamin C deficiency was less in children and women as socioeconomic level increased (OR=0.69, p=0.03, and OR=0.80, p=0.04), and higher in older women (OR=1.02, p=0.05). The prevalence of folate deficiency varied in children (2.3 to 11.2), in women it was 5%. Folate deficiency was less in children of higher socioeconomic level (OR=0.62, p=0.01 ), and in those eating more vegetables (OR= 0.22, p=0.01

Objective. To describe the epidemiology of iron, zinc and iodide deficiencies in a probabilistic sample of Mexican women and children and explore its association with some dietary and socio-demographic variables. Material and Methods. We carried out in 1999 an epidemiological description of iron (percent transferrin saturation, PTS, <16%), serum zinc (<65ug/dl) and iodide (<50 ug/l urine) deficiencies in a probabilistic sample of 1,363 Mexican children under 12 years and of 731 women of child-bearing age. Serum iron, Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC) and zinc were measured by atomic absorption spectrometry, and urinary iodide by a colorimetric method. Logistic regression models explored determinants for such micromineral deficiencies. Results. Iron deficiency was higher (67%) in infants <2 years of age. Prevalence declined (34-39%) at school age. The prevalence for iron deficiency in women was 40%. Zinc deficiency was higher in infants <2 years of age (34%) than in school-age children (19-24%). Prevalence in women was 30%, with no rural/urban difference. In women the likelihood of iron deficiency decreased as SEL improved (p=0.04) and increased with the intake of cereals (p=0.01). The likelihood of low serum zinc levels was greater in women and children of low socioeconomic level (SEL) (p<0.02 and p=0.001) iodide deficiency was negligible in both children and women. Conclusions. The data shows high prevalence of iron deficiencyspecially in infants 12 to 24 months of age. It is suggested that

This survey was conducted with the support from the Secretaría de Salud.

ObjectiveTo quantify fruit and vegetable (F&V) intake in the Mexican population, ages 1 to 59 years. Material and methods: Using dietary information (Semiquantitative 7‐days Food Frequency Questionnaire) from the Mexican National Health and Nutrition Survey, 2006, F&V intake (grams) was computed, and compliance with international (WHO and AHA) recommendations (CIR) was ascertained. Linear regression and ordinals models were used to calculate intake and compliance, considering the study design effect.ResultsThe average dietary intake ranged 70‐100g for fruits, and 14‐50g for vegetables, for different age groups. The average F & V intake was 88.3g in preschool‐age and, 92.5 in school‐age children, 129.2g in adolescent and 155.4g in adults. The subgroups with the lowest intakes and compliance were the northern region, rural areas, and the quintile with the lowest wellbeing conditions. Relative to the CIR, the intake of F&V amounted to 26.7% in adolescents, 35% in adults and preschoolers, and 18% in school‐age children.ConclusionsLess than one third of the Mexican population had an adequate intake of F&V. School‐age children had the lowest intake, relative to CIR, of all the subgroups. Given the high prevalence of overweight and obesity in all age groups, developing and implementing strategies and programs aimed are increasing the intake of these food groups is a national priority.