Objectives
To assess food, beverages, nutrient and supplements intakes and compliance with nutritional recommendations in pregnant women with and without overweight.
Methods
Cross-sectional study that included 126 pregnant women (between 15 and 33 gestation weeks), aged 19-33 years, who underwent an ultrasound for routine obstetric care at the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Unit of the Hospital Civil de Guadalajara Dr. Juan I. Menchaca between July and September 2012. Dietary data were obtained using a validated 162-item FFQ. Food intake was compared with American dietary guidelines. Intake inadequacy for nutrients was assessed using the Dietary Reference Intakes of the US Institute of Medicine.
Results
Median intakes were within the range of recommendations for all food and beverages groups except for dairy andsimple water.Woman consumed on average 400± 368.4 ml daily of sugar sweetened beverages. More than 60% of pregnant women did not meet energy requirements; reported intakes of fiber, selenium, folic acid and iron were below recommendations and exceeded the total fat, saturated fat and carbohydrate intakes according to dietary references. Folic acid and iron supplements were the more common supplements used by pregnant women, more than a half of women (81% and 62%, respectively) reported consuming them daily. There were no significant differences in energy, nutrient, food and supplements intake among overweight and non-overweight women.
Conclusions
Policies to improve diet and supplementation schemes based on the nutritional status of pregnant women are needed in order to reduce the likelihood of both deficient and excessive intakes and the resulting potential risks for health.
