Estado nutricional e consumo alimentar de mulheres das comunidades quilombolas de Alagoas

Abstract

Objective: To determine the nutritional status and dietary intake of women from quilombola communities in the State of Alagoas. Methods: 1308 women were studied and their anthropometric, dietary, socioeconomic and demographic factors were obtained. Nutritional status was evaluated utilizing Body Mass Index (BMI). To investigate the possible relationship between malnutrition in early life, as measured by stunting, and current nutritional status, the women were categorized according to distribution in quartiles of their respective heights. Those classified in the lower quartile (Q1) were considered to be of short stature. Women in the upper quartile (Q4) were taken as reference for comparison of variables of interest. Dietary intake was assessed by 24-hour dietary recall applied across the sample at random on any day of the week and, to reconcile for intrapersonal variability of intake, repeated in a sub-sample equivalent to 22.6% of the women according to random selection. To calculate the Estimated Energy Requirement (EER) and Acceptable Range Distribution of Macronutrients (AMDR) the recommendations of the IOM (Institute of Medicine) which advocates the use of DRIs (Dietary Reference Intakes) was followed. The EAR cutpoint method was used to estimate the probability of inadequate intake of micronutrients. For nutrients without an established EAR (calcium and fiber), AI (Adequate Intake) was used. Results: Almost all women (97.3%) belonged to social classes D (50.4%) or E (46.9%). Nevertheless, the majority (52.4%) were overweight (33.1%, BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2) or obese (19.3%, BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2), a condition that could not be explained by an excessive current energy consumption, as 64.4% of the sample had an energy intake below their corresponding EER. This finding may be due to under-reporting of ingestion and/or overestimation of energy needs. The latter alternative is supported by the greater prevalence of overweight and obesity among women in Q1as compared to Q4 of women (odds ratio = 1.46, 95% CI 1.07 to 2.03, P = 0.01), suggesting that the former have developed the so-called economic phenotype. Among the investigated nutrients (zinc and vitamins A, C and folic acid), it was possible to estimate the probability of inadequacy only for folic acid and zinc, corresponding to 85.3% and 27.4% respectively. With respect to the other nutrients, this estimate could not be achieved because the distribution of intake was not normal, even after data transformation. Conclusions: Despite the precarious economic problems observed, excess weight is the most relevant nutritional problem of female quilombolas in Alagoas and is associated with short stature, possibly due to metabolic adaptations resulting from malnutrition at the start of life.