No abstract

Objective: There is a paucity of data on the micronutrient status of low-income, lactating South African women and their infants under 6 months of age. The aim of this study was to elucidate the level of anaemia and vitamin A deficiency (VAD) in peri-urban breast-feeding women and their young infants. Design: Cross-sectional study including anthropometric, biochemical and infant feeding data. Setting: Peri-urban settlement in Cape Town, South Africa. Subjects: Breast-feeding women (n ¼ 113) and their infants (aged 1-6 months) attending a peri-urban clinic. Results: Mean (standard deviation (SD)) haemoglobin (Hb) of the lactating mothers was 12.4 (1.3) g dl 21, with 32% found to be anaemic (Hb , 12 g dl 21 ). Maternal serum retinol was 49.8 (SD 13.3) mg dl 21 , with 4.5% VAD. Using breast milk, mean (SD) retinol concentration was found to be 70.6 (24.6) mg dl 21 and 15.7 (8.3) mg/g milk fat, with 13% below the cut-off level of , 8 mg/g fat. There was no correlation found between breast milk retinol and infant serum retinol. Z-scores (SD) of height-for-age, weight-for-age and weight-for-height were 2 0.69 (0.81), 0.89 (1.01) and 1.78 (0.83), respectively. Mean (SD) infant Hb was 10.9 (1.1) g dl 21, with the prevalence of anaemia being 50%, 33% and 12% using Hb cut-offs below 11 g dl 21 , 10.5 g dl 21 and 9.5 g dl 21 , respectively. Mean (SD) infant serum retinol was 26.9 (7.2) mg dl 21 , with 10% being VAD. None of the infants was exclusively breast-fed, 22% were predominantly breast-fed and 78% received complementary (mixed) breast-feeding. Thirty-two per cent of infants received weaning foods at an exceptionally young age (# 1 month old). Conclusion: A high rate of anaemia is present in lactating women residing in resourcepoor settings. Moreover, their seemingly healthy infants under 6 months of age are at an elevated risk of developing early-onset anaemia and at lower risk of VAD.