Dietary Micronutrient Status and Relation between Micronutrient Intakes and Overweight and Obesity among Non-Pregnant and Non-Lactating Women Aged 18 to 49 in China
Authors: Ju Lahong , Wei Xiaoqi , Yu Dongmei , Fang Hongyun , Cheng Xue , Piao Wei , Guo Qiya , Xu Xiaoli , Li Shujuan , Cai Shuya , Zhao Liyun 
Published: May 2022

Women between the ages of 18 and 49 are women of reproductive age, for whom physical health and nutritional status are closely related to successful pregnancy, good pregnancy outcomes and the nurturing of the next generation. Overweight and obesity have become important nutrition and health problems of women aged 18–49 years in China. In social life, non-pregnant and non-lactating Chinese women aged 18–49 are the most vulnerable and neglected group. At present, there are no research data on their dietary micronutrient intake, and the relationship between dietary micronutrient intake and overweight and obesity in China. However, non-pregnant and non-lactating women aged 18–49 are the best window of opportunity to implement strategies, correct nutrition and improve physical health. It remains to be explored whether their overweight and obesity are related to inadequate dietary micronutrient intake. The aim of this study was to evaluate dietary micronutrient intake in non-pregnant and non-lactating Chinese women aged 18–49 years, and to analyze the relationship between dietary micronutrient intake and overweight and obesity. Data were obtained from 2015 China Adult Chronic Disease and Nutrition Surveillance (CACDNS 2015). In CACDNS 2015, 12,872 women aged 18 to 49 years (excluding pregnant women and lactating mothers) were surveyed for a three-day 24 h dietary recall and a three-day household weighing of edible oil and condiments. The average daily dietary intake of micronutrients was calculated according to the Chinese food composition table. In 2015, the median intake of vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin C and folate in non-pregnant and non-lactating women aged 18–49 years in China was 267.0 μg RE/day, 0.7 mg/day, 0.6 mg/day, 63.5 mg/day and 121.0 μg/day, respectively. The median mean intake of vitamin A, niacin, calcium and zinc in overweight/obese group was lower than that in non-overweight/obese group, and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that vitamin A intake (Q3 vs. Q1: OR = 0.785, 95% CI: 0.702~0.878; Q4 vs. Q1: OR = 0.766, 95% CI: 0.679~0.865), niacin intake (Q2 vs. Q1: OR = 0.801, 95% CI: 0.715–0.898; Q3 vs. Q1: OR = 0.632, 95% CI: 0.554~0.721; Q4 vs. Q1: OR = 0.662, 95% CI: 0.568~0.772), Zinc intake (Q4 vs. Q1: OR = 0.786, 95% CI: 0.662~0.932) were a protective factor for overweight/obesity in women, while vitamin B2 intake (Q2 vs. Q1: OR = 1.256, 95% CI: 1.120~1.408; Q3 vs. Q1: OR = 1.416, 95% CI: 1.240~1.617; Q4 vs. Q1: OR = 1.515, 95% CI: 1.293–1.776), vitamin E intake (Q2 vs. Q1: OR = 1.114, 95% CI: 1.006–0.235; Q3 vs. Q1: OR = 1.162, 95% CI: 1.048~0.288; Q4 vs. Q1: OR = 1.234, 95% CI: 1.112–1.371) was a risk factor for overweight/obesity in females. The intakes of most dietary micronutrients in non-pregnant and non-lactating women aged 18–49 in China were low. The intakes of dietary vitamin A, niacin and zinc were negatively correlated with the risk of overweight/obesity, while the intakes of vitamin B2 and vitamin E were positively correlated with the risk of overweight/obesity.