Dietary patterns and anemia morphology in young men and women in Shandong province, China.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

The association between diet and macrocytic and hypochromic anemia in young Chinese men and women remains unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between dietary pattern and macrocytic and hypochromic microcytic anemia in young Chinese men and women.

METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN

Some 4,840 first-year students (2,385 men and 2,455 women) were recruited for this study from Qingdao University, China. Biochemical and hematological parameters, and food frequency questionnaires were obtained from the subjects. Based on dietary intake, participants were divided into three dietary patterns: seafood dietary pattern (SDP), vegan dietary pattern (VDP) and omnivorous dietary pattern (ODP). The risks for macrocytic and microcytic hypochromic anemia in three dietary patterns were assessed.

RESULTS

Macrocytic and hypochromic anemia were less common in participants who adhered to the omnivorous dietary pattern than to the vegan or seafood dietary patterns (p<0.05). Adhering to an omnivorous dietary pattern was negatively associated with macrocytic anemia in men [odds ratio (95% CI): 0.74 (0.62, 0.89), p<0.001] and microcytic, hypochromic anemia in both genders [men: odds ratio (95% CI): 0.64 (0.45, 0.92), p=0.01; women: odds ratio (95% CI): 0.71 (0.51, 0.99), p=0.04].

CONCLUSIONS

Adhering to an omnivorous dietary pattern was associated with less common macrocytic anemia in young men and microcytic, hypochromic anemia. Dietary diversity is important in preventing macrocytic anemia in men and also microcytic, hypochromic anemia in young men and women. Excessive alcohol intake is the most plausible explanation for macrocytosis in the young men.