Association of anaemia with oxidized tea drinking in affluent Pakistani female university students

Abstract

Background: Tea intake ranks as a major beverage globally. It has positive as well as negative impact on human health. There are many dietary factors in apparently healthy women to be anaemic and worsening the anaemic conditions. The present study aimed at prevalence of anaemia, its association with tea intake and comparison of the observed values with cut-off set by WHO. Methods: It was a cross-sectional, case control study. A questionnaire for survey was distributed among 17?25 year old single and/or unmarried girl students after informed consent. Subjects suffering from any disease or on medication/minerals/vitamins were excluded. Blood samples were collected and analysed for complete blood count, and haematological indices. Anthropometric indicators were recorded. Data were analysed on SPSS-21. Results were tabulated as Mean±SD. Paired t-test was applied to compare data parameters and p<0.05 was taken as statistically significant. Results: The overall prevalence of anaemia was observed 80.77%, Haemoglobin and Red blood cells count (RBCs) were found less in tea drinkers (TDs) (10.84±1.34 g/dl 4.09±0.32 million/mm³ respectively) as compared to Non tea drinkers (NTDs) (11.08±0.88 g/dl, 4.11±0.36 million/mm³ respectively), Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) was significantly lower in TDs (78.87±7.10 µm³), as compared to NTDs (82.63±7.91 µm³), (p=0.03.). The study could not find the significant difference in white blood cell count (WBCs) and anthropometric indices in aforementioned groups. Conclusion: Anaemia prevails among girls in our region and tea drinking is associated with its worsening.

Pak J Physiol 2019;15(3):63?6