[Effect of consumption of corn flour enriched with soja on nutrition status of indigenous women of Mexico]

Abstract

Background: The problem of micronutrient deficiency in the diet, in Mexico affects over 28 million people, mainly rural indigenous women. A solution is food supplementation. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of an enriched corn flour soy protein among indigenous women.

Method: The study was conducted with a sample of 308 rural Mexican women, conducted in 2010, longitudinal intervention was double-blind and randomized. The experimental group (n = 155) consumed fortified maize meal (soy protein, iron and vitamin A, folic acid, zinc and niacin). The control group (n = 153) received unfortified flour. The evaluated indicators were: weight, body mass index, and waist circumference and blood hemoglobin levels. The intervention time was four months (intermediate) and six months (final). Statistical analysis was descriptive, bivariate and linear regression models.

Results: Changes in hemoglobin levels in the experimental group were 13,1 to 13,3 mg / dL. The improvement of hemoglobine levels was shown by the most marginalized community (from 12,4 to 12,9 mg / dL). In both groups, the weight gain was 900 g. Though BMI of the experimental group (24,2 to 24,9 / kg/m²) with an increase of (0,7 / kg/m²) was equal in both groups, the waist circumference in women who consumed fortified flour was equal at the beginning and end of the study (83,0 cm) but the hip circumference changed (94,3 to 94,9 cm) in women who consumed enriched flour.

Conclusions: enriched flour is an ideal food for marginalized women in rural areas who are underweight, are undernourished and have anemia.