Title:

Relationship Between Dietary Iron and Perceived Stress Among College Students

Relationship Between Dietary Iron and Perceived Stress in College Students Objectives: To examine differences in perceived stress scores (PSS) in students who meet the recommendation for dietary iron vs. students who do not. Methods: Data were collected between 2013-21 from the College Health and Nutrition Assessment Survey, an ongoing, cross-sectional study conducted at a northeastern university. Students from all majors were recruited from a large general education nutrition course. After completing portion estimation education, students completed a 3-day food record; average iron intake (mg/day) was calculated via nutrient analysis software (Diet & Wellness+). Stress was measured via Cohen’s perceived stress scale (0-40) via an online questionnaire (Qualtrics). Differences in PSS among students who met iron recommendations vs. students who did not were analyzed using ANCOVA; smoking, total daily calorie intake, and Pell Grant status served as covariates. Association between iron intake and PSS were analyzed using Pearson Correlation. Results: In the final sample, (n=4743), 12% of females and 96% of males met the RDA for iron. Mean dietary iron intake for males was 18.4mg and 12.8mg for females. No significant differences between mean PSS scores in males who met the RDA vs. those who did not (14.4 ± 6.6 vs 15.7 ± 5.2, P=0.65) and females (16.2 ± 6.1 vs 16.8 ± 6.6, P=0.47). No significant correlation between iron intake and PSS (R=-0.029, P=0.088). Conclusions: While no differences were seen in PSS among those who met iron recommendations vs. those who did not, data highlights that most females (88%) do not meet the recommendations for iron. Further research targeting increases of dietary iron in college women is warranted. Funding sources: New Hampshire Agriculture Experiment Station and USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Hatch Project 1010738.

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