Dietary assessment of a population of pregnant women in Sheffield, UK

Abstract

The present study examined the dietary intakes of a population of pregnant women living in the North of England. The objectives of the paper were to assess and describe the dietary intakes of the population and relate the findings to existing data on the diet of pregnant and non-pregnant women in the UK. A total of 250 pregnant women attending their first antenatal appointment at the Jessop Wing Hospital, Sheffield, UK were recruited. Information on their diet was assessed by an interviewer-administered semi-quantified food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). The mean intakes as assessed by the FFQ were similar to other studies of UK pregnant population; however Sheffield pregnant women had lower intakes of calcium and folate. Study findings were also related to the National Diet and Nutrition Survey and to the Estimated Nutrient Intakes (EAR). Of the study participants, 40 % did not meet the EAR for calcium, 67 % for iron and 69 % for folate. Subgroup comparisons suggested lower nutrient intakes of participants living in the 40 % most deprived electoral wards. The study findings suggest that the diet of pregnant women in Sheffield is characterised by low intakes of important nutrients for pregnancy such as folate and nutrient variations by electoral wards.

Dietary intake and nutritional adequacy prior to conception and during pregnancy: a follow-up study in the north of Portugal

“…The intakes of most macro-and micronutrients in our study were higher than those reported for pregnant women in England (37,41) , but similar to those found among pregnant women in Finland (39) , the USA (42) and Greece (43) . We attempted to identify groups of women who may be at particular risk of nutrient inadequacy and to whom dietary interventions should be targeted.…”

“…A recent US study (40) reported a much lower inadequacy prevalence (36 % v. 90?8 % in our sample) but, in contrast to Portugal, folate fortification of staple foods is common in the USA. A much lower prevalence was also observed in a large British study but the cut-off points used to define inadequacy of folate intake were very different (37) from those used in the present study. Intake of Fe prior to conception was within recommended levels for most women, but as requirements almost triple during pregnancy with no parallel increase in intake, the prevalence of inadequacy was very high during pregnancy.…”

Diet and pregnancy status in Australian women

“…However that study did not include a control, non-pregnant cohort. Similar findings have been reported in a number of smaller studies in both the UK (6) and the USA (7) . The Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa) is currently underway with some dietary data published for 40 108 participants (8) .…”

“…The diet quality and variety of the young Australian cohort that we have studied appears to be suboptimal, as evident by the discrepancies between the recommended and reported intake levels, especially for folate, fibre and Fe. These key nutrients have also been found to be at suboptimal levels of intake in pregnant women in the UK and Norway, and in pregnant and non-pregnant controls in the USA (5)(6)(7) . The ARFS was previously developed to evaluate the diet quality of mid-aged Australian women and it has performed well in analyses of nutritional and some morbidity-related indices (24,25) .…”

Listeria monocytogenes and diet during pregnancy; balancing nutrient intake adequacy v. adverse pregnancy outcomes

“…This presents a challenging issue for public health authorities and for pregnant women, as the risk of listeriosis v. inadequate nutrient intakes needs to weighed up (14) . Some studies have examined the diet quality of pregnant women in relation to nutrient intakes (15)(16)(17)(18)(19) . Hure et al found that women of childbearing age in Australia are not meeting key nutrient intakes and concluded that those who were trying to become pregnant or were pregnant did not appear to consume a variety of nutritious foods (15) .…”