Risk Factors for Anemia and Micronutrient Deficiencies among Women of Reproductive Age-The Impact of the Wheat Flour Fortification Program in Uzbekistan.

Food fortification can be effective in reducing the prevalence of anemia and micronutrient deficiencies. This study assessed risk factors for-and the impact of the wheat flour program in Uzbekistan on-anemia, and iron and folate deficiency (FD) in non-pregnant women (NPW) of reproductive age. National data were analyzed for risk factors using multivariable regression. Additional iron intake from fortified flour was not associated with iron deficiency (ID) and did not result in a significantly different prevalence of anemia regardless of the levels, whereas women with additional folic acid intake had a lower relative risk (RR) of FD (RR: 0.67 [95% CI: 0.53, 0.85]). RR for anemia was greater in women with ID (RR: 4.7; 95% CI: 3.5, 6.5) and vitamin A insufficiency (VAI; RR 1.5; 95% CI: 1.3, 1.9). VAI (RR: 1.4 [95% CI: 1.3, 1.6]) and breastfeeding (RR: 1.1 [95% CI: 0.99, 1.2]) were associated with increased risk of ID, while being underweight reduced the risk (RR: 0.74 [95% CI: 0.58, 0.96]). Breastfeeding (RR: 1.2 [95% CI: 1.1, 1.4]) and inflammation (RR: 1.2 [95% CI: 1.0, 1.3]) increased risk of FD. FD results indicate that the fortification program had potential for impact, but requires higher coverage of adequately fortified wheat flour and a more bioavailable iron fortificant.

Household Coverage with Adequately Iodized Salt and Iodine Status of Nonpregnant and Pregnant Women in Uzbekistan.

Background: Globally, iodine deficiency has been drastically reduced since the introduction of salt iodization programs; nonetheless, many populations remain at-risk for iodine deficiency. This study aimed to assess the iodine status among women of reproductive age in Uzbekistan and to identify factors associated with iodine deficiency, including the availability of adequately iodized salt at the household level. Methods: A cross-sectional household survey was conducted to produce region-specific estimates of the household coverage with adequately iodized salt and iodine status among women for each of the 14 regions in Uzbekistan. Other information, such as socioeconomic status, lactation and pregnancy, residence, age, and consumption of iodine supplements, was also collected. Results: Overall, 36% of 3413 households had adequately iodized salt (iodine concentration >15 ppm [parts per million (mg I/kg salt)]), 20% had inadequately iodized salt (5-14 ppm), and 44% had salt without detectable iodine (<5 ppm). Adequate iodization was found in 33.2% of the 2626 salt samples taken from retail packages labeled as "iodized," 36.5% of the 96 samples taken from retail packages without mention of iodization, and 50.5% of the 674 samples without the original packaging (p < 0.001). The median urinary iodine concentration (UIC) of 140.9 µg/L (95% confidence interval [CI 132.4-150.7]) in nonpregnant nonlactating women indicated adequate iodine status, while for nonpregnant lactating and pregnant women, the median UIC of 112.9 µg/L [CI 99.3-128.4] and 117.3 µg/L [CI 101.8-139.9], respectively, indicated borderline adequacy. Significant differences in UIC (p < 0.001) were found between nonpregnant nonlactating women living in households with adequately iodized salt (UIC 208.9 µg/L), inadequately iodized salt (UIC 139.1 µg/L), and noniodized salt (UIC 89.9 µg/L). Conclusions: Coverage with adequately iodized salt is low in Uzbekistan, and women in households with poorly iodized salt have substantially worse iodine status; claims on packaging about salt iodization do not reflect salt iodine content. This highlights the importance and effectiveness of salt iodization and the need to strengthen this program in Uzbekistan.