Mar. 28, 2011 A new study published in the April 2011 issue of
the Journal of the American Dietetic Association indicates that
inadequate nutrition is linked to a greater risk of anemia in
postmenopausal women. "This study suggests that inadequate
nutrient intakes are a significant risk factor for anemia in
this population of older women and use of multivitamin/mineral
supplements is not associated with lower rates of anemia,"
reports lead investigator Cynthia A. Thomson, PhD, RD, Associate
Professor Nutritional Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson.
"Overall mortality is increased in relation to a diagnosis of
anemia, and anemia, particularly iron deficiency, has been
associated with reduced capacity for physical work and physical
inactivity, injury related to falls and hospitalizations, making
this an important health care concern in the aging." The authors
also point out that there have been few studies of anemia and
diet of independently living women in the past 20 years. Using
data from 72,833 women in