Introduction: Prevalence of anemia among young women in Indonesia has been seen to increase in the last five years. This situation indicates that this nutritional disorder looks like an iceberg phenomenon. Daily consumption of vegetables containing foods is recommended for prevention of non-communicable diseases including anemia. These foods contain not only ferric ions but also other natural compounds. Aim: To analyse the relationship of daily intake of micronutrients and polyphenols with hemoglobin levels in young females. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study recruited 117 young females who studied in six senior high schools in Karanganyar Regency, Central Java; they were selected using a purposive sampling. Data of micronutrients and polyphenols intake were collected using the Semi Quantitative-Food Frequency questionnaire. Blood samples from lower arm veins were used for hemoglobin measurements in a hematology analyser. The collected data were analysed using the Rank Spearman and multiple regression linear tests to evaluate the relationship of micronutrients and polyphenols intake with the hemoglobin levels. Results: The prevalence of anemia was 17.1% among 20/117 young females. Higher dietary intake of iron (b=0.043; p<0.001) and higher BMI for age (b=0.246; p=0.025) increased the Hb levels while higher dietary intake of tannin (b=−0.003; p=0.009) decreased them. Conclusions: Dietary intake of iron and BMI for age are related to the hemoglobin levels but tannin intake is inversely related to these levels in young females. Higher iron intake from vegetable resources should be taken into account for anemia reduction in young females due to the presence of tannins.

Indonesia still encounters a nutritional problem since the morbidity rate of anemia in young women has increased in the last few years. Iron deficiency is the most common cause of anemia in susceptible age groups especially in young women. Based on the results of Basic Health Research in Indonesia, low daily intake of fruits and vegetables commonly occurs in Indonesian people. This study therefore aimed to investigate the correlation of fruit and vegetable consumptions with hemoglobin (Hb) levels in young women. A cross sectional study was performed to 117 young women who studied at senior and vocational high schools in Karanganyar Regency. They were selected by using a stratified random sampling. Data of fruit and vegetable consumptions were collected through a Semi Quantitative-Food Frequency Questionnaire (SQ-FFQ) while Hb levels were measured by using a hematology analyzer. Data of other factors that influenced Hb levels were obtained by using questionnaires and anthropometric measurement. Spearman and multiple linear regression tests were used to analyze correlation of fruit and vegetable consumptions and confounding factors with Hb levels. The p-value of <0.05 was considered as a statistical significance. Anemia was found in 17.1% young women. Most young women had inadequate fruit consumption whereas 52.1% had adequate vegetable consumption. Fruit consumption (b = 0.002; p = 0.740) did not correlate with Hb levels while a positive correlation with Hb level was observed in vegetable consumption (b = 0.006; p <0.001). In conclusion, daily consumption of fruits and vegetables has different correlations with Hb levels in young women.