Estimation of Total Usual Dietary Intakes of Pregnant Women in the United States. 2019

Regan L Bailey, and Susan G Pac, and Victor L Fulgoni, and Kathleen C Reidy, and Patrick M Catalano
Department of Nutrition Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana.

Nutrition during pregnancy is a critical dimension not only for women's health but also for the lifelong health of the offspring. Very limited national data exist on the usual dietary intakes of pregnant women. To estimate total usual nutrient intakes (from foods and dietary supplements) and the population prevalence of meeting or exceeding the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Dietary Reference Intake recommendations among pregnant US women. A cross-sectional analysis was performed of a nationally representative sample of 1003 pregnant US women aged 20 to 40 years from the 2001-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Usual dietary intakes assessed by two 24-hour dietary recalls (including dietary supplements) adjusted for within-person variation using the National Cancer Institute method. The proportion of women at risk of inadequate dietary intake as determined by the Estimated Average Requirement, the proportion of women assumed to have adequate dietary intake as determined by the Adequate Intake, and the proportion of women at risk of excess dietary intake as determined by the Tolerable Upper Intake Level. Demographic differences between pregnant and nonpregnant women were compared with t tests. As representative of the US population, this sample of 1003 pregnant women had a mean (SE) age of 28.0 (0.3) years, was predominantly non-Hispanic white (mean [SE], 54.5% [3.1%]), and was at above 185% of the income to poverty ratio (mean [SE], 56.8% [3.0%]). Most pregnant women used a dietary supplement (mean [SE], 69.8% [2.3%]). A total of 10% or more of pregnant women had a total usual intake that is less than the Estimated Average Requirement for magnesium (mean [SE], 47.5% [2.8%]), vitamin D (mean [SE], 46.4% [2.7%]), vitamin E (mean [SE], 43.3% [2.7%]), iron (mean [SE], 36.2% [2.8%]), vitamin A (mean [SE], 15.5% [2.1%]), folate (mean [SE], 16.4% [1.6%]), calcium (mean [SE], 12.9% [2.4%]), vitamin C (mean [SE], 11.5% [1.9%]), vitamin B6 (mean [SE], 11.5% [1.5%]), and zinc (mean [SE], 10.9% [1.9%]). Some pregnant women exceeded the Adequate Intake for potassium (mean [SE], 41.7% [2.9%]), choline (mean [SE], 7.9% [3.2%]), and vitamin K (mean [SE], 47.9% [4.3%]). Most women exceeded the Tolerable Upper Intake Level for sodium (mean [SE], 95.0% [2.2%]), and some women exceeded the Tolerable Upper Intake Level of folic acid (mean [SE], 33.4% [2.8%]), iron (mean [SE], 27.9% [2.8%]), calcium (mean [SE], 3.0% [0.8%]), and zinc (mean [SE], 7.1% [1.6%]). For iron, the prevalence of an at-risk intake from foods alone was lower among women who used supplements (mean [SE], 80.3% [4.3%]) than those who did not use supplements (mean [SE], 95.3% [7.3%]); however, supplement use increased the risk of excessive iron and folic acid intakes given the amounts that are being consumed from supplemental products. This study suggests that a significant number of pregnant women are not meeting recommendations for vitamins D, C, A, B6, K, and E, as well as folate, choline, iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium, and zinc even with the use of dietary supplements. Almost all pregnant women in this study were at risk of excessive consumption of sodium, and many were at risk of excessive consumption of folic acid and iron. Improved dietary guidance to help pregnant women meet but not exceed dietary recommendations is warranted.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009749 Nutrition Surveys A systematic collection of factual data pertaining to the nutritional status of a human population within a given geographic area. Data from these surveys are used in preparing NUTRITION ASSESSMENTS. NHANES,National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey,Nutritional Surveys,Nutrition Survey,Nutritional Survey,Survey, Nutrition,Survey, Nutritional,Surveys, Nutrition,Surveys, Nutritional
D011247 Pregnancy The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH. Gestation,Pregnancies
D002149 Energy Intake Total number of calories taken in daily whether ingested or by parenteral routes. Caloric Intake,Calorie Intake,Intake, Calorie,Intake, Energy
D003430 Cross-Sectional Studies Studies in which the presence or absence of disease or other health-related variables are determined in each member of the study population or in a representative sample at one particular time. This contrasts with LONGITUDINAL STUDIES which are followed over a period of time. Disease Frequency Surveys,Prevalence Studies,Analysis, Cross-Sectional,Cross Sectional Analysis,Cross-Sectional Survey,Surveys, Disease Frequency,Analyses, Cross Sectional,Analyses, Cross-Sectional,Analysis, Cross Sectional,Cross Sectional Analyses,Cross Sectional Studies,Cross Sectional Survey,Cross-Sectional Analyses,Cross-Sectional Analysis,Cross-Sectional Study,Cross-Sectional Surveys,Disease Frequency Survey,Prevalence Study,Studies, Cross-Sectional,Studies, Prevalence,Study, Cross-Sectional,Study, Prevalence,Survey, Cross-Sectional,Survey, Disease Frequency,Surveys, Cross-Sectional
D004032 Diet Regular course of eating and drinking adopted by a person or animal. Diets
D004435 Eating The consumption of edible substances. Dietary Intake,Feed Intake,Food Intake,Macronutrient Intake,Micronutrient Intake,Nutrient Intake,Nutritional Intake,Ingestion,Dietary Intakes,Feed Intakes,Intake, Dietary,Intake, Feed,Intake, Food,Intake, Macronutrient,Intake, Micronutrient,Intake, Nutrient,Intake, Nutritional,Macronutrient Intakes,Micronutrient Intakes,Nutrient Intakes,Nutritional Intakes
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D012907 Smoking Willful or deliberate act of inhaling and exhaling SMOKE from burning substances or agents held by hand. Smoking Behaviors,Smoking Habit,Behavior, Smoking,Behaviors, Smoking,Habit, Smoking,Habits, Smoking,Smoking Behavior,Smoking Habits

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