Dietary Patterns Of Pregnant Women Research Articles

Dietary Patterns of Pregnant Women and Their Association with Diet Quality Measures: A Comparative Analysis.

Healthy dietary patterns during pregnancy are crucial for ensuring maternal and foetal health outcomes. Numerous methodologies exist for assessing the diet of pregnant women, including dietary patterns and various appraisal tools of diet quality. This study aimed to assess the dietary patterns and diet quality of pregnant women and to investigate the relationship between dietary patterns, diet quality estimators, and the adequacy of nutrient intake. EPIC FFQ was applied to a sample of 251 pregnant women, and questionnaires were interpreted with the FETA program. Dietary patterns were then determined by means of principal component analysis. Our results showed a substantial association between dietary patterns and total diet quality, as measured by the Diet Quality Index for Pregnancy (DQI-Pc), PURE Healthy Diet Score, and FIGO Diet Quality Score. We also found correlations between certain dietary patterns and particular nutrient intakes recommended by the European Food Safety Authority during pregnancy. The most deficient intake was registered for iron (86.1%), zinc (87.3%) and magnesium (79.3%), posing a threat to normal bone development, anaemia prophylaxis, and immune status. These results highlight the importance of assessing and understanding eating habits during pregnancy in order to achieve optimal outcomes for both the mother and the foetus.

Aboriginal and Immigrant Women’s Food Choices and Practices in Pregnancy: A Scoping Review

Dietary patterns of pregnant women are closely related to cultural values, beliefs, and various social and economic factors. Knowledge of the food choices and practices among pregnant Aboriginal and immigrant women, who both are vulnerable to poor pregnancy and birth outcomes, is essential for midwives and other maternity care providers to provide culturally appropriate care during pregnancy. A “scoping review,” guided by Arksey and O’Malley’s framework, was performed to examine and outline the extent, range, and nature of empirical evidence on immigrant and Aboriginal women’s food practices during pregnancy. Assisted by an information scientist, a systematic search strategy without language or date restrictions was implemented in several electronic databases to identify primary research articles on the subject. Two reviewers independently screened, selected, and charted the data, and team consensus was used for discrepancies. A descriptive analytical framework was followed to depict the existing narrative account of the included studies. Seventeen articles describing seven qualitative and ten quantitative research studies were selected for review, and nine themes were identified. This review will help midwives and other maternity care providers gain an understanding of the importance of culture for Aboriginal and immigrant women’s diets and of existing barriers so that prenatal care can be individually tailored to include nutritional advice and to optimize culturally appropriate care. More individual studies that focus on the cultural aspects of immigrants and Aboriginal pregnant women are needed to improve prenatal care. This article has been peer reviewed.

Metabolomic Biomarkers of Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) Dietary Patterns in Pregnant Women.

Objective: the aim of this study was to identify plasma metabolomic markers of Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) dietary patterns in pregnant women. Methods: This study included 186 women who had both dietary intake and metabolome measured from a nested case-control study within the NICHD Fetal Growth Studies-Singletons cohort (FGS). Dietary intakes were ascertained at 8-13 gestational weeks (GW) using the Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) and DASH scores were calculated based on eight food and nutrient components. Fasting plasma samples were collected at 15-26 GW and untargeted metabolomic profiling was performed. Multivariable linear regression models were used to examine the association of individual metabolites with the DASH score. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression was used to select a panel of metabolites jointly associated with the DASH score. Results: Of the total 460 known metabolites, 92 were individually associated with DASH score in linear regressions, 25 were selected as a panel by LASSO regressions, and 18 were identified by both methods. Among the top 18 metabolites, there were 11 lipids and lipid-like molecules (i.e., TG (49:1), TG (52:2), PC (31:0), PC (35:3), PC (36:4) C, PC (36:5) B, PC (38:4) B, PC (42:6), SM (d32:0), gamma-tocopherol, and dodecanoic acid), 5 organic acids and derivatives (i.e., asparagine, beta-alanine, glycine, taurine, and hydroxycarbamate), 1 organic oxygen compound (i.e., xylitol), and 1 organoheterocyclic compound (i.e., maleimide). Conclusions: our study identified plasma metabolomic markers for DASH dietary patterns in pregnant women, with most of being lipids and lipid-like molecules.

Dietary Patterns and Factors Associated with Food Affinity in Pregnant Women from Quito, Ecuador.

Nutrition during pregnancy influences perinatal outcomes and predispositions to chronic diseases. A prospective cohort study was carried out with the objectives of describing the dietary patterns in the pregnant population in the city of Quito, Ecuador and analysing the sociodemographic and lifestyle factors that influence the adherence to each dietary pattern. The body mass index was calculated for each patient, and the patients were classified according to the Atalah criteria. The Global Physical Activity Questionnaire was also applied. The dietary patterns were assessed using a dietary survey with a 24 h recall on two occasions. A total of 535 pregnant women were included. A positive association was found between the pattern "dairy, salads and sweet snacks/dressings" and foreign nationality (β = 0.82 (0.43;1.21)). The "refined carbohydrates" pattern was negatively associated with education equal to or less than 7 years and an income of up to one basic salary (β = -0.59 (-1.05; -0.14)). The "traditional Ecuadorian" pattern showed a positive association with being born in the coastal region of Ecuador (β = 0.62 (0.22; 1.01)). This study identified three dietary patterns in pregnant women and their possible associations with certain sociodemographic factors. More studies are needed to better understand these patterns as well as to analyse their nutritional and caloric properties.

Dietary patterns and socioeconomic, demographic, and health-related behaviors during pregnancy. A cross-sectional study.

The identification and understanding of dietary factors and other characteristics that influence gestational weight gain can contribute to the formulation of strategies to promote healthy eating habits before and during pregnancy. To investigate the association between dietary patterns, sociodemographic and obstetric characteristics, and health-related behaviors in pregnant women. A cross-sectional study was conducted on women undergoing prenatal care in the Unified Health System of Colombo, Paraná, Brazil, from February 2018 to September 2019. A weekly food frequency questionnaire was administered, and dietary patterns were identified through factor analysis. Median regression models were constructed to identify the associations between dietary pattern scores and variables. Complete data were obtained from 495 pregnant women. Three dietary patterns were identified: 1) "healthy," with higher factor loadings for the weekly consumption of raw vegetables, cooked vegetables, and fresh fruits; 2) "Western," including soft drinks or artificial juice, candies, milk, and dairy products, and processed cold meat; and 3) "traditional," beans and meat. Pregnant women aged 30 years or older (coefficient [Coef.] 0.86, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.38-1.33) with moderate/intense physical activity (Coef. 0.32, 95% CI 0.02-0.62) had higher adherence to the "healthy" pattern. Adolescents and smokers adhered more to the "traditional" pattern (Coef. 0.17, 95% CI 0.01-0.33). Age, smoking status, and physical activity were associated with dietary patterns in pregnant women.

Association of dietary patterns of pregnant women with pregnancy outcomes: A hospital-based study.

Diet is one of the main factors influencing pregnancy outcomes. Maternal and child health both seem to be related to dietary patterns. So far, no study on dietary pattern has been performed on pregnant women and its association with pregnancy outcomes in Rasht. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the association between dietary patterns and pregnancy outcomes in Rasht. In this cross-sectional study, 300 healthy pregnant women were included from three public hospitals in Rasht. Data on demographic, dietary intake, physical activity (PA), and anthropometric measurements of mothers were recorded. Outcomes of newborns were also gathered. Dietary patterns were identified using principal component analysis. General linear model was used for data analysis. Prior to pregnancy, only 40% of women had a normal body mass index (BMI). More than half of them (52.3%) had a gestational weight gain in excess of the guidelines. The dominant dietary patterns among pregnant women were traditional, Western, and healthy, respectively. High adherence to the Western pattern had a direct association with gestational weight gain (B = 1.48, p = .046) and inverse association with birth length (B = -0.71, p = .043). However, the results did not remain significant after adjusting for covariates. The present study indicated that several factors can affect the association of the Western diet with pregnancy outcomes. Therefore, making policies for interventional programs to improve maternal lifestyle factors along with their diet quality is recommended.

Perinatal dietary patterns and symptomatic depression: A prospective cohort study.

To promote maternal and infant health, there is a need to optimise the dietary pattern of pregnant women to reduce perinatal depression. This prospective cohort study was conducted from June 2020 to February 2022, 300 women from a medical center were interviewed during late pregnancy and at 4-6 weeks postpartum. Dietary patterns were derived by factor analysis using a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. Symptomatic depression was defined using the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS, ranged 0-30). Their dairy, vegetableand fruit intakes were below the Taiwanese recommendations for pregnant women. Symptomatic depression (EPDS ≥10) affected 31.3% in the third trimester and 35.7% postpartum. Pre- and post-EPDS scores were positively correlated (r = 0.386, p < 0.001). Approximately 55% of those depressed before delivery were also depressed postpartum. For late pregnancy, four dietary patterns were identified ('Good oil', 'Vegetables and fruits', 'Omnivorous' and 'Refined-grain and organ meats'). Dietary patterns were classified according to quartiles (Q). Higher omnivorous pattern scores reduced the risk of depression. For prenatal depression, with Q1 as a reference, the risk was reduced by 38% for Q2, 43% for Q3 and 59% for Q4 (p for trend = 0.068). These findings became evident postpartum (reduced risk by 68% for Q2, 69% for Q3 and 70% for Q4 (p = 0.031; p for trend = 0.0032). The association between dietary patterns and depression encourages the routine nutritional management of pregnant women.

A contribuição do acompanhamento pré-natal nos padrões alimentares de gestantes de alto risco

Abstract Objectives: investigate whether prenatal characteristics were associated with dietary pattern of pregnant women. Methods: we studied 200 high-risk pregnant women in Fortaleza, Ceará. The identification of dietary patterns was performed through principal component analysis with the orthogonal Varimax rotation. Poisson regression was used to estimate prevalence ratios (PR) and respective confidence intervals (CI95%). Results: three major dietary patterns were identified: ‘common Brazilian’, ‘healthy’ and ‘energy-dense’. After adjustments conducted with multivariate analysis, pregnant women who had not received dietary guidance in prenatal consultations (34%) were less likely to adhere to the ‘healthy’ pattern (PR = 0,81; CI95%= 0,67-0,95). Pregnant women who attended an appropriate number of consultations (≥ 6 consultations) (41%) showed greater adherence to the ‘healthy’ pattern (PR = 1,15; CI95%= 1,01-1,32) and lower adherence to the ‘energy-dense’ pattern (PR = 0,85; CI95%= 0,74-0,99). Conclusion: it was observed that the high-risk pregnant women who attended an adequate number of consultations during the prenatal care had a higher chance to adhere to the ‘healthy’ pattern and a lower chance to adhere to the ‘energy-dense’ pattern. Not receiving guidelines on prenatal nutrition was inversely associated with the healthy pattern. Thus, the importance of high-risk pregnant women undergoing an appropriate prenatal care is reinforced.

Association of Maternal Diet during Pregnancy and Metabolite Profile in Cord Blood.

Cord blood metabolites can be predictive of long-term disease risk, but how levels of different metabolites might vary with respect to maternal diet is not well understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the associations of different dietary patterns during pregnancy with cord blood metabolites (including glycerophospholipid fatty acids, polar lipids, non-esterified fatty acids, amino acids, and the sum of hexoses). Participants from the German LISA birth cohort study, with available data on targeted cord blood metabolomics and maternal diet, were included (n = 739). Maternal diet during the last 4 weeks of pregnancy was assessed by a non-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire. Using factor analysis, ten dietary patterns were identified, which were used in linear regression models exploring associations with cord blood metabolites. After correction for multiple hypothesis testing and adjustment for basic covariates, “fish and shellfish” was associated with higher glycerophospholipid fatty acid C20:5 n3 and lower C22:5 n6, whereas the “meat and potato” pattern was directly associated with propionylcarnitine (C3:0). The observed associations highlight potential metabolic pathways involved in the early programming of health and disease through maternal diet, as well as the potential for establishing quantitative biomarkers for dietary patterns of pregnant women.

Dietary patterns and associated factors among pregnant women in Ibadan, Nigeria: Evidence from Ibadan pregnancy cohort study.

Maternal nutrition is vital for an optimal intrauterine environment, foetal development, birth weight, pregnancy and neonatal outcomes. We assessed the maternal dietary patterns using a data-driven technique and the associated sociodemographic factors among pregnant women in Ibadan, Nigeria. Dietary assessment was performed during the enrolment of participants for the Ibadan Pregnancy Cohort Study, a prospective cohort study, conducted among 1745 pregnant women enrolled early in pregnancy (≤ 20 weeks) at four comprehensive obstetric facilities within the Ibadan metropolis. A qualitative food frequency questionnaire was used to assess the pregnant population's intake of food and drinks three months prior to their enrollment. We determined dietary patterns by applying principal component analysis with a varimax rotation. Multivariate analysis was used to investigate the association between sociodemographic factors and dietary patterns at 5% statistical significance. Mean age and gestational age at enrolment were 29.8 (± 5.3) years and 16.4 (±4.2) weeks, respectively. White rice was the most frequently consumed meal [794 (45.5%) daily, 898 (51.4%)] weekly in our study population. Five major dietary patterns were identified, and they accounted for 28.8% of the total variation: "protein-rich diet with non-alcoholic beverages" (15.6%); "fruits" (4.1%); "typical diet with alcohol" (3.8%); "legumes" (2.8%), "refined grains" (2.6%). Maternal education and income were inversely associated with the consumption of a "protein-rich diet with non-alcoholic beverages", "typical diet with alcohol", and "legumes" in a dose-response fashion. Also, employed women had a higher mean intake of fruits [adjusted β: 0.33 (0.02; 0.65) p = 0.040] compared with women without employment. We described five dietary patterns of pregnant women using a data-driven technique, principal component analysis, in Nigeria. We also identified factors influencing maternal dietary patterns, which can inform public health interventions, especially behavioural change communication during antenatal care.

The Influence of Sociodemographic Factors, Lifestyle, and Risk Perception on Dietary Patterns in Pregnant Women Living in Highly Contaminated Areas: Data from the NEHO Birth Cohort

During pregnancy, maternal nutrition and lifestyle play a critical role in influencing fetal development and newborn health outcomes. The aim of this study is to investigate the factors influencing the adherence to dietary patterns in pregnant women living in highly contaminated areas, and whether women with higher environmental risk perception manifest different nutritional behaviors during pregnancy. Food consumption data on 816 pregnant women from the Neonatal Environment and Health Outcomes (NEHO) residential birth cohort were analyzed. Dietary patterns were computed by principal component analysis. A multinomial logistic regression was also applied to identify sociodemographic, lifestyle, and pregnancy-related determinants of adherence to dietary patterns during pregnancy. Three patterns of food consumption—explaining 24.9% of the total variance—were identified as “prudent”, “high energy”, and “vegetarian” patterns. Results suggest that food choices during pregnancy follow a social gradient and align with other health behaviors during pregnancy: older, better educated, and physically active women with higher risk perception are more likely to follow healthier dietary patterns. Knowledge about what is eaten can contribute to dietary choices. Interventions to improve the prenatal nutrition knowledge of pregnant women are needed, especially concerning younger mothers and those with lower educational levels.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Dietary Patterns of Pregnant Women: A Comparison between Two Mother-Child Cohorts in Sicily, Italy.

A maternal diet, before and during pregnancy, plays a key role in ensuring maternal and newborn health. The COVID-19 pandemic, however, may have compromised dietary habits in the general population and in specific subgroups of individuals. Here, we evaluated the impact of COVID-19 on the diet of pregnant women, using data from two mother-child cohorts in Sicily (Italy). Dietary data were collected using a food frequency questionnaire and analyzed through the Mediterranean diet (MD) score and principal component analysis (PCA). The comparison of maternal dietary consumption before and during the COVID-19 pandemic showed differences in terms of vegetables (p < 0.001), fruit (p < 0.001), dairy products (p < 0.001), fish (p < 0.001), and legumes (p = 0.001). Accordingly, after adjusting for covariates, mothers enrolled during the pandemic were more likely to report low adherence to MD than those enrolled before (OR = 1.65; 95%CI = 1.12–2.42; p = 0.011). A similar result was obtained by analyzing the adherence to a prudent dietary pattern, derived through PCA and characterized by high intake of cooked and row vegetables, legumes, fruit, fish, and soup. Overall, these findings suggested that the COVID-19 pandemic may have influenced maternal diet during pregnancy. However, further efforts are needed to investigate the main causes and consequences of this change.

Iron Status in Pregnant Women in Latvia: An Epidemiological, Cross-Sectional, Multicenter Study According to WHO and UK Criteria.

Background and Objectives: During pregnancy, iron deficiency anaemia is a common problem associated with health risks for both the mother and her foetus/infant. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of iron deficiency, iron deficiency anaemia, and related dietary patterns in pregnant women in Latvia. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional, multicentre study included pregnancy data from 974 women. The sample selection was based on the stratification principle (population of women of childbearing age in regions of Latvia). Maternal demographic details, anthropometric measurements, iron status, dietary patterns, and supplementation information were obtained from maternal files and during interviews held in eight outpatient departments of medical institutions and maternity departments. The prevalence was assessed. Chi-square tests and logistic regression were used to identify associations between iron deficiency and sociodemographic characteristics, dietary patterns, and iron supplement intake during pregnancy. The criterion used for the diagnosis of iron deficiency anaemia is a Hb level < 110 g/L in the 1st and 3rd trimesters and <105 g/L during the 2nd trimester as recommended by the WHO. However, the UK guideline was used for borderline iron deficiency, which is an SF level < 30 μg/L in all trimesters. Results: The observed prevalence of anaemia was 2.8% in the first trimester, 7.9% in the second trimester, and 27.0% in the third trimester. The prevalence of iron deficiency was 46.7% in the first trimester, 78.1% in the second trimester, and 91.7% in the third trimester. No associations with dietary patterns were found. Single women had 1.85 times the odds (95% CI 1.07 to 3.18) of being anaemic than married women. Conclusions: Iron deficiency affects a large proportion of pregnant women in Latvia in all trimesters, with iron deficiency anaemia affecting pregnant women in the third trimester. Monitoring and intervention should be performed in a timely and more targeted manner.

The Reproducibility and Relative Validity of a Food Frequency Questionnaire for Identifying Iron-Related Dietary Patterns in Pregnant Women.

Analyzing pregnant women’s iron intake using dietary patterns would provide information that considers dietary relationships with other nutrients and their sources. The objective of this study was to evaluate the reproducibility and relative validity of a Qualitative Food Frequency Questionnaire to identify iron-related dietary patterns (FeP-FFQ) among Mexican pregnant women. A convenience sample of pregnant women (n = 110) completed two FeP-FFQ (FeP-FFQ1 and FeP-FFQ2) and a 3-day diet record (3DDR). Foods appearing in the 3DDR were classified into the same food groupings as the FeP-FFQ, and most consumed foods were identified. Exploratory factor analysis was used to determine dietary patterns. Scores were compared (FeP-FFQ for reproducibility and FeP-FFQ1 vs. 3DDR for validity) through intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), cross-classification, Bland–Altman analysis, and weighed Cohen kappa (κw), using dietary patterns scores tertiles. Two dietary patterns were identified: “healthy” and “processed foods and dairy”. ICCs (p < 0.01) for “healthy” pattern and “processed foods and dairy” pattern were 0.76 for and 0.71 for reproducibility, and 0.36 and 0.37 for validity, respectively. Cross-classification and Bland–Altman analysis showed good agreement for reproducibility and validity; κw values showed moderate agreement for reproducibility and low agreement for validity. In conclusion, the FeP-FFQ showed good indicators of reproducibility and validity to identify dietary patterns related to iron intake among pregnant women.

Identifiable Dietary Patterns of Pregnant Women: A Canadian Sample.

Purpose: To estimate the percentage of a sample of pregnant women in Canada following a vegetarian, vegan, low-carbohydrate, gluten-free, Mediterranean, or well-balanced diet, before and during pregnancy and to explore if pregnant women received and were satisfied with nutrition information received from health care providers (HCPs).Methods: Participants were conveniently sampled through Facebook and Twitter. An online survey collected data on sociodemographic characteristics, maternal diet, and whether women received and were satisfied with nutrition information from their HCPs. The McNemar test assessed changes in the proportion of diets followed before and during pregnancy.Results: Of 226 women, most followed a well-balanced diet before (76.9%) and during (72.9%) pregnancy (p = 0.26). Vegetarian, gluten-free, vegan, and low-carbohydrate diets were the least followed diets before and during pregnancy (vegetarian: 7.6% vs 5.3%; gluten-free: 4.9% vs 4.0%; vegan: 2.7% vs 2.2%; low-carbohydrate:4.0% vs 0.4%). Overall, the number of women following restrictive diets before pregnancy was significantly reduced throughout pregnancy (19.1% vs 12.0%, p < 0.001). Only 52.0% of women received nutrition information from their primary HCP, and 35.6% were satisfied with the nutrition information received.Conclusions: Most women followed a well-balanced diet before and during pregnancy and approximately one-third were satisfied with the information received from HCPs.

Assessment of Dietary Patterns of Pregnant Women in Southern Nepal

INTRODUCTION: Quality and balanced diet becomes very crucial to the health of woman during and after pregnancy. Therefore, the study was focused on the nutritional behaviour and dietary pattern of women during pregnancy.&#x0D; MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cluster random sampling was adopted. Total 336 pregnant women were selected, out of which 224 were pregnant women (cases) and 112 were non-pregnant healthy women (controls). Maternal demographics information was collected by a structured questionnaire. Data was entered into MS Excel and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Chi-square test was used. The p-value (p&lt; 0.05) was considered statistically significant.&#x0D; RESULTS: Among pregnant women, 27.23%, 32.58%, 30.95% and 9.82% women consumed meat daily, twice per week, once per week and none respectively while among non-pregnant women the consumption of meat was 25.89%, 50.89%, 17.85% and 5.35% respectively. The association of consuming meat twice per week and fish among pregnant and non-pregnant women was noted statistically significant (p=0.005). More number of study participants drank tea and milk daily. The co-relation between pregnant and non-pregnant women regarding drinking (tea and milk) daily was statistically insignificant (p=0.881 and p=0.122) respectively. However, the relation between pregnant and non-pregnant women for intake of juice was statistically significant (p=0.007).&#x0D; CONCLUSIONS: Thus, the findings of this research suggest the need for a balanced nutritional diet among Nepalese pregnant women for proper foetal growth, good health of pregnant women and to avoid complications during pregnancy. Nutrition education programs in the community should be launched.

Exploring of Dietary Patterns, and Possible Association with Educational Level, among Jordanian Pregnant Women

Evaluating dietary patterns could provide an overall view of food and nutrient which consumed regularly. Better understanding of dietary patterns in pregnant women may be considered an acceptable mean to identify unhealthy dietary practices and the associations with undesirable pregnancy outcomes, which necessitates urgent intervention. This study aimed to determine the dietary pattern followed by Jordanian women during pregnancy in the second and third trimesters and to detect possible association between the dietary patterns and educational level. A total of 286 healthy, pregnant Jordanian women, aged ≥ 18 years with singleton pregnancies, completed the study. Sociodemographic, dietary, and physical activity data were collected using validated questionnaires. Dietary patterns were identified using a Principal Component Analysis. A multinomial logistic regression was used to estimate the effect of education level on dietary intake. Three dietary patterns were identified during the entire duration of pregnancy; ‘High-Fat, High-Sugar’, ‘Fruit and Vegetables', and ‘High Protein’ which explained about 32% of the variability of the study sample. Dietary patterns adopted by pregnant women during the second and third trimesters, separately, were able to explain about 40% of the variability during each trimester. Educational level showed associations with dietary patterns, in which ‘Fruit and Vegetables' and ‘Healthy’ patterns were remarkably manifested as the preferred pattern of consumption for the highly educated women during their third trimester. Different dietary patterns have been identified among Jordanian pregnant women throughout their pregnancy trimesters. Higher educational level could influence food choices. Fruit and Vegetables' and ‘Healthy’ patterns were the followed patterns among the highly educated women during their third trimester.

Relationships between Maternal Dietary Patterns and Blood Lipid Levels during Pregnancy: A Prospective Cohort Study in Shanghai, China.

The relationships between maternal dietary patterns and blood lipid profile during pregnancy have not been well understood. We aimed to analyze the dietary patterns of pregnant women and their associations with blood lipid concentrations during pregnancy. A cohort of 1008 Chinese pregnant women were followed from 10–15 weeks of gestation to delivery. Their dietary patterns were identified using a principal component analysis. The relationships between dietary pattern score and maternal blood lipid concentrations were assessed using both multivariate linear regression models and generalized estimating equation (GEE) models. Five different dietary patterns were identified. GEE showed that a high score for the fish-shrimps pattern was associated with higher concentrations of total cholesterol (TC) (β = 0.11), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (β = 0.07), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (β = 0.03), with all p values < 0.001. In contrast, a high tubers-fruit-vegetables pattern score was associated with lower concentrations of TC (β = −0.12), LDL-C (β = −0.07), and HDL-C (β = −0.03), with all p values < 0.001. In addition, dietary protein, carbohydrate, and cholesterol intake significantly contributed to the associations between the fish-shrimps dietary pattern and blood lipid concentrations. Predominant seafood consumption is associated with higher cholesterol concentrations, whereas predominant tuber, fruit, and vegetable consumptions are associated with lower cholesterol concentrations during pregnancy.

Factors Influencing Dietary Patterns during Pregnancy in a Culturally Diverse Society

The aim of this study was to identify dietary patterns in pregnant women and to assess the relationships between sociodemographic, lifestyle-related, and pregnancy-related factors. This is a descriptive, correlational study involving 306 pregnant women in Melilla (Spain) in any trimester of pregnancy. A validated food frequency questionnaire was used. Dietary patterns were determined via exploratory factor analysis and ordinal logistic regression using the proportional odds model. Three dietary patterns were identified: Western, mixed, and prudent. Sociodemographic, lifestyle-related, and pregnancy-related factors influencing dietary quality were established. The Western dietary pattern was considered the least recommended despite being the most common among women who live in Melilla (p = 0.03), are Christian (p = 0.01), are primiparous women (p < 0.001), and are in their first or second trimester (p = 0.02). Unemployed pregnant women were also more likely to have a less healthy dietary pattern (β = −0.716; p = 0.040). The prudent dietary pattern, the healthiest of the three, was most commonly observed among Muslim women (p = 0.01), women with more than two children (p < 0.001), and women in the third trimester of pregnancy (p = 0.02). Pregnant women who engaged in no physical activity or a low level of physical activity displayed a mixed pattern (p < 0.001). This study provides evidence on the factors influencing dietary patterns during pregnancy and suggests that more specific nutrition programmes should be developed to improve the nutritional status of pregnant women.

The differential effect of maternal dietary patterns on quantiles of Birthweight

BackgroundMaternal dietary habits during pregnancy are considered essential for development and growth of the fetus as well as maternal health. It has an effect on the birthweight of infants. However, little is known about the effect of dietary patterns on birthweight in urban South Africa. This study aimed to investigate differential effect of dietary patterns of pregnant women on quantiles of birthweight.MethodsData for the study were obtained from a Mother and Child in the Environment birth cohort study in Durban South Africa. Quantile regression was used to investigate the effect of maternal dietary patterns on quantiles of birthweight. Data collection was conducted during the period of 2013 to 2017 in Durban South Africa. Using factor analysis, eight dietary groups were identified from 687 pregnant women in the cohort. Quantile regression analysis was employed to identify the differential effects of the seven dietary groups and demographic factors on the birthweight.ResultsThe quantile regression estimates at the 50th quantile and the ordinary regression estimates painted the same picture about the conditional mean effect of covariates on the birthweight. But unlike the quantile regression the ordinary regression fails to give insights about the covariates effect disparities at the low and/or upper birthweight quantiles. All the dietary groups show a significant differential effect at different birthweight quantiles. For instance, increased frequency of protein rich foods intake was associated with reduction in birthweight at lower and upper quantiles; increased frequency of junk foods intake has a slight increase in birthweight at the lower quantiles but significantly higher increase at the 95th quantile (p < 0.001); increase in consuming vegetable rich foods, reduced birthweight at 95th quantile (p < 0.001). The results further showed that employment (p = 0.006) and family size (p = 0.002) had differential effects across different birthweight quantiles.ConclusionsBoth maternal undernutrition and overnutrition of protein rich foods, junk foods, snack and energy foods and vegetable rich foods have shown a substantial varying effects on those infants with birthweights in the lower and upper birthweight quantiles.