Pica (from the Latin pica, a magpie), or the compulsive intake of nonnutritive substances, has been associated with iron deficiency during pregnancy [1][2][3][4]. This study was conducted at a hospital in suburban Buenos Aires, Argentina, to determine whether there were differences in iron concentration between women with pica and controls during the postpartum period. Biochemical indicators of iron status and anthropometric characteristics of neonates were compared.After calculating sample size needed to estimate pica prevalence with a 95% confidence interval (CI), 324 women were randomly selected postpartum. The 71 women diagnosed as having pica were then compared with a control group of 71 women without the disorder. Both groups were similar in prepregnancy body mass index, height, parity, educational level, marital status, and employment status.Women with pica revealed ingesting ice (70%); dirt (18%); soap, (4%); chalk (3%); or thread, nail polish, or salt (4%), and most consumed the substance on a daily basis. Table 1 shows data regarding pregnancy outcomes and biochemical indicators of pica as well as neonates' anthropometric characteristics. The prevalence of prematurity was the same in both groups, 1.5% (95% CI, 0.0%-4.2%) in the pica group and 1.4% (95% CI, 0.0%-4.3%) in the control group. The prevalence of neonates with a birth weight less than 2500 g was 7.6% (95% CI, 1.2%-14.0%) in the pica group and 8.6% (95% CI, 2.0%-15.2%) in the control group.Differences in mean corpuscular volume, erythrocyte protoporphyrin, and erythrocyte protoporphyrin/hemoglobin were observed (Table 1). As serum ferritin concentration increases as a consequence of inflammatory processes naturally occurring in the last quarter of pregnancy and during labor and delivery, it was assessed for all study participants to determine whether there was a difference between the 2 groups. The mean serum ferritin concentration was found to be higher in the pica group. The Creactive protein levels were also assessed to check for inflammatory processes; the test results were positive for 84% of the women in the pica group and 87% in the control group, however.Iron nutritional status was also assessed, using a model that defined iron deficiency as abnormal values for at least 2 of 3 of the following indicators: high concentration of red-blood-cell erythrocyte protoporphyrin (N 70 μg/dL), low transferrin saturation (b 16%), and low hemoglobin concentration (b 11 g/dL). The ⁎ Corresponding author.

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Excess body iron (Fe) has been proposed to oxidize low ‐density lipoproteins (LDL). Blood samples from 109 non‐institutionalized healthy adults attending Hospital Italiano, Buenos Aires during 2006 were obtained. Samples negative for C‐reactive protein (PCR‐latex, Wiener lab) and risk population were studied: men (M) 23‐95y (n=30) and postmenopausal women (PostW) 51‐83y (n=31). Serum ferritin (SF) (quimiolumminescence analyzer‐ DPC‐Siemmens); unsaturated iron binding capacity (UIBC) (FerroZine‐) (Hitachi 917; automated systems‐ Roche diagnostics) and plasma oxidized LDL (ox‐LDL) (competitive ELISA developed at UNR, School of Biochemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Argentina, normal range 2.2‐3.8 U) were measured. Mean values ± SD, (range) and % of individuals with normal values were:No correlation was found between ox‐LDL and SF (r= 0.02) nor UIBC (r=0.006) levels in M and PostW. However, increased risk of chronic diseases may be possible, as wheat flour fortification with Fe is mandatory in Argentina since 2002 in spite of high meat intake (54.7 Kg /capita /y, FAO 2003). Partially supported by UBACyT B414, CONICET PIP 5068 & ROCHE, Argentina

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956,2p.-(1113) ArgentinaIron deficiency anemia is prevalent among pregnant women, but its influence in maternal and neonatal health is still uncertain. Latin America shows a high prevalence of maternal and child morbidity, mortality and anemia, reflecting nutritional problems and socio-cultural behavioural factors. However, Argentina is an exception within Latin America due to its high meat consumption, even in the low socio-economic population. A cross-sectional study was carried out in 157 pregnant women assisted at delivery in a suburban hospital, between July and September/1998. Most of the women did not have a follow-up at the Hospital and they had not taken iron or vitamin supplements during pregnancy. Maternal venous fasting blood samples were collected with EDTA and Hematocrit (Htc), Red Blood Cell (RBC), Hemoglobin (Hb) and Mean Cell Volume (MCV) were determined by an electronic counter. Infant birth weight (IBW) and delivery gestational age (DGE) were recorded. The mean values, standard deviation and ranges (between brackets) were: RBC (X 10 6 /µl): 3.75 + 0.53; Htc(%): 34.1 + 5.1 (52-21); MCV(fL): 92 + 7 (115-71); Hb (g/dL): 11.1 + 1.8 (16.9-7.1); (DGA) (weeks): 38.8 + 2.4 (26-41). Distribution of the population according to Hb (g/dL) was: <7.0: 1.9%; 7.1-8.9: 10.5%; 9.0-10.9: 30.5%; 11.0-13.2: 45%; >13.2: 12%. MCV(fL) was <80 in 4.5% of the women and >100 in 5%. The percentage of preterm birth (<38 weeks of DGA) was 5.9% in the whole population, but there was no correlation with the haematologic parameters. Two women (1.3%) had dead infants. IBW (g) of the other alive born infants was: 3252 + 618 (5350-810). These results show that, in spite of an important percentage of women with Hb values <11.0 g/dL at delivery, there was a high percentage with Hb values >12.0 375