Low Dietary Intakes of Essential Nutrients during Pregnancy in Vietnam

Abstract

Inadequate intake of nutrients during pregnancy has been associated with poor pregnancy and infant outcomes; however, evidence remains limited in low-resource settings in Asia. This paper assessed food, macronutrient, and micronutrient intakes among 1944 Vietnamese pregnant women. Dietary information was collected via an interviewer-administered food frequency questionnaire, and nutrient intakes were estimated using the Vietnamese food composition tables. The levels of nutrient intakes were evaluated against the Vietnamese recommended nutrient intakes (RNI) for pregnancy. The diet profiles were reported as means and percentages. The average daily food intakes across socio-demographic factors were compared using ANOVA, with adjustment for multiple comparisons by the Tukey–Kramer test. Rice, fruits, and vegetables were the main food sources consumed. The mean energy intake was 2004 kcal/day with 15.9%, 31.8%, and 52.2% of energy deriving from proteins, fats, and carbohydrates, respectively. Just over half of the women did not meet the RNI for total energy intake. The intakes of essential micronutrients including folate, calcium, iron, and zinc were below the RNI, and almost all pregnant women failed to meet the recommendations for these micronutrients. The associations of maternal age, education, and pre-pregnancy body mass index with nutrient intakes varied across the nutrient subgroups. Targeted programs are needed to improve nutrient intakes in Vietnamese pregnant women.

A landscape of micronutrient status in women through the reproductive years: Insights from seven regions in Asia

“…65 Data on folate intake and status in pregnant women were scarce and only available from Vietnam and Singapore (Table 3). 67,68 The mean daily intake of folate (440.8 μg) in Vietnam 68 was within the range recommended by FIGO (400-600 μg/day). Only Singapore 64 had data for median plasma folate level, which was reported as 34.4 nmol/L and above the WHO cut-off level for deficiency (<10 nmol/L).…”

Low Prevalence of Folic Acid Supplementation during Pregnancy: A Multicenter Study in Vietnam

“…Trained interviewers collected information on dietary supplementation via a validated Food Frequency Questionnaire at the baseline interview [4,34]. Upon receiving a positive response to the question “Have you ever taken FA/multivitamin supplements during this pregnancy?”, further consumption details were solicited in terms of frequency (times per day/week/month), quantity (number of tablets taken each time) and duration (number of months/weeks/days taken during pregnancy) of supplementation.…”

“…Folate deficiency is one of the most common micronutrient deficiencies during pregnancy, as the demand for folate is increased due to fetal growth and development. This can occur if the mother’s dietary intake of folate is inadequate during pregnancy [3,4,5,6]. The cells’ ability to methylate important compounds, including DNA, proteins and lipids, may be compromised by folate deficiency, leading to impaired cellular function [7].…”

Socioeconomic Status in Pregnant Women and Sleep Quality During Pregnancy

“…Pregnant women with low socio-economic status tend to receive inadequate nutrients [37]. Another article found how women with lower incomes have poorer diets and consume higher levels of saturated fatty, carbohydrates, soft beverages, or food without adequate nutrients.…”