Ethiopian pre-school children consuming a predominantly unrefined plant-based diet have low prevalence of iron-deficiency anaemia

Objective Children from low-income countries consuming predominantly plant-based diets but little animal products are considered to be at risk of Fe deficiency. The present study determined the Fe status of children from resource-limited rural households. Design A cross-sectional study. Setting Twenty six kebeles (the smallest administrative unit) from six zones of the Amhara region, Ethiopia. Subjects Children aged 54-60 months (n 628). Results Grain, roots or tubers were the main dietary components consumed by 100 % of the study participants, followed by pulses, legumes or nuts (666 %). Consumption of fruit and vegetables (193 %) and meat, poultry and fish (22 %) was low. Children had a mean dietary diversity score of 21 (sd 08). Most children (748 %, n 470) were in the lowest dietary diversity group (1-2 food groups). Rate of any morbidity in the preceding 14 d was 229 % (n 114). Infection or inflammation ((1)-acid glycoprotein >12 g/l) was present in 302 % (n 184) of children. Children had a high rate of stunting (432 %). Of the total sample, 136 % (n 82) of children were anaemic, 91 % (n 57) were Fe deficient and 53 % (n 32) had Fe-deficiency anaemia. Fe-deficiency erythropoiesis was present in 142 % (n 60) of children. Conclusions Despite consuming a predominantly plant-based diet and little animal-source foods, there was a low prevalence of Fe-deficiency anaemia. This illustrates that dietary patterns can be inharmonious with Fe biochemical status; thus, Fe-related interventions require biochemical screening.