Selected Micronutrient Status of Ethnic People in Chittagong Hill Tracts

Abstract

This study investigated serum vitamin A and E, copper, zinc, iron, serum ferritin and haemoglobin levels of ethnic people living in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHTs). It also addressed their sociodemographic condition, dietary practice, nutrition knowledge and morbidity.

It is a cross sectional study conducted among the ethnic people of Bandorban, Rangamati and Khagrachori. Blood samples were collected from 171 female of reproductive age from 156 households.

Vitamin A and E were analyzed by HPLC. Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometryr was used to analyze serum Zn, Cu, and Fe concentrations. Serum Ferritin level was estimated by Pathozyme Ferritin kits. Cyanmethemoglobin method was employed to measure the blood haemoglobin level. IBM SPSS 21 software package was used for statistical analysis.

The study population was classed into Lactating and Non pregnant non lactating woman (NPNL). In lactating women, serum vitamin A and E, Zn, Cu and Fe concentrations were 1.3±0.5µmol/L, 5±3.5 µmol/L, 26.2±6.2µmol/L, 19.8±6.2µmol/L and 22.48±8.7 µmol/L respectively, while in NPNL women, concentrations of these micronutrients were 1.6±0.5µmol/L, 6 ±3.4 µmol/L, 25.6±6.3µmol/L, 20.98±7.02µmol/L and 21.5±9.09 µmol/L respectively. With exception of vitamin A, E and Cu, the values for Zn and Fe were apparently observed a little higher in the lactating mother than the NPNL women, the difference was insignificant (p= 0.1- 0.4). Expect vitamin A, the difference was significant (p=0.00). Concentrations of serum ferrtin and haemoglobin in lactating women were 35.5±29.4 µg/L and 9±2.5 g/dl; in NPNL women were 42.4±37.51 µg/L and 8.5 ± 2.3 g/dl respectively. Though these have apparent difference but it was not significant (p = 0.06-0.08).

The micronutrients and biochemical indices were also evaluated by their reference cutoff values. In female, cutoff points for serum vitamin A & E, Zn, Cu and Fe are 0.7µmol/L, 12 µmol/L, 10.1µmol/L, 11µmol/L and 11µmol/L respectively, and for serum ferritin and blood hemoglobin are 15µg/L and 12 g/dl respectively. It was noted that majority of the lactating and NPNL women have the micronutrients and ferritin levels at or above the reference cutoff point, but the hemoglobin and vitamin E was found below the reference cutoff point. Dietary intake of vitamin A, Zn and Cu content were observed to be equivalent or nearer to the RDA, but iron and vitamin E intake was less than the RDA. It was found that dietary intake of micronutrients, except iron have positive association with the serum micronutrient values. Inadequate dietary intakes of vitamin E negatively influenced serum vitamin E concentrations.

In sociodemographic assessment, it was observed that majority of ethnic people were literate (~70%), mostly involved in household chores (78%) and few were in agriculture and job (8%), have good income (~ tk. 19000), household food security (~86%), nutrition knowledge (~83%), and drink water mostly (81%) from tube well. It was further seen that the study population have good lifestyle with better micronutrients and ferritin levels. The ethnic people have much better zinc and vitamin A status as compared to the national micronutrient status.