Milk folate but not milk iron concentrations may be inadequate for some infants in a rural farming community in San Mateo, Capulhuac, Mexico

Background: We were interested in identifying possible nutritional reasons for growth faltering among breastfed infants in the rural farming community of San Mateo Capulhuac Mexico (2800 m above sea level). Objective: We examined the prevalence of inadequate iron and folate status among lactating Otomi women and determined to what extent their iron and folate nutriture influenced the milk concentrations of these nutrients. Design: Lactating women (n = 71) provided blood and milk samples and dietary information at a mean (± SD) of 22 ± 13 d postpartum. Blood indexes included hemoglobin hematocrit serum iron total-iron-binding capacity ferritin transferrin receptor mean cell volume plasma folate and erythrocyte folate. Results: Approximately 62% and 58% of the women had nutritional anemia defined as a hemoglobin concentration