Dietary Patterns In Pregnancy Research Articles

Exploring Lifestyle and Dietary Patterns in Pregnancy and Their Impact on Health: A Comparative Analysis of Two Distinct Groups 10 Years Apart.

The significance of dietary patterns during pregnancy is highlighted by accumulating evidence, emphasizing their pivotal role in promoting a healthy pregnancy for both the mother and the child. This study aimed to assess the current dietary patterns of pregnant women, compare the energy and nutrient intake of two distinct groups with a 10-year interval, and identify changes in dietary patterns. EPIC FFQ was applied, and its data were interpreted with the FETA program version 6 (CAMB/PQ/6/1205). By means of principal component analysis, three different food patterns were identified in each study group: vegetarian, balanced, and traditional (2013); and prudent, vegetarian, and modern (2023). Analyzing the relationship between food groups and gestational weight, we found that gestational weight gain in 2013 was positively correlated with eggs and egg dishes and milk and milk products, whereas in 2023, gestational weight gain was positively correlated with fats and oils, non-alcoholic beverages, and the modern pattern. Additionally, in 2023, pre-gestational BMI correlated positively with eggs and egg dishes. The balanced pattern emerged as a predictor for a lower likelihood of inadequate gestational weight gain in both groups. Furthermore, normal and overweight pregnant women showed a reduced likelihood of excessive gestational weight gain.

Dietary Patterns in Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period and the Relationship with Maternal Weight up to One Year after Pregnancy Complicated by Gestational Diabetes.

This multicentric cohort study aimed to describe changes in dietary patterns during pregnancy and postpartum and the association with BMI variation at six and twelve months postpartum in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Between 2014 and 2018, we enrolled women with GDM in prenatal clinics of the Brazilian National Health System and followed them for one year postpartum. The dietary patterns during pregnancy and the postpartum period were obtained by factorial analysis. The relationship between these patterns and variation in postpartum BMI was evaluated by Poisson regression with robust variance adjusted for confounders. We identified three dietary patterns in 584 women, two healthy (generally healthy and Dash type), which were associated with less weight gain (RR 0.77 CI 95% 0.62-0.96 and RR 0.71 CI 95% 0.57-0.88, respectively). The high-risk pattern (based on ultra-processed, high-calorie foods and sweetened drinks) was associated with weight gain (RR 1.31 CI 95% 1.07-1.61 and RR 1.26 CI 95% 1.01-1.59) in six and twelve months postpartum, respectively. Although the participants learned about healthy dieting during pregnancy, dietary habits worsened from pregnancy to postpartum, especially, with lower consumption of fruits and dairy and higher consumption of sweetened beverages, with consequent weight gain postpartum. Postpartum support is needed to prevent weight gain and obesity.

Dietary Patterns in Pregnancy and Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress in Mothers and Offspring: The NELA Birth Cohort.

BackgroundAlthough adherence to the Mediterranean and antioxidant-rich diets during pregnancy is suggested to improve maternal-fetal health by reducing oxidative stress, yet there is no study available.ObjectiveWe examined whether maternal dietary patterns in pregnancy impact the biomarkers of oxidative stress in mothers and their offspring.MethodsStudy population included 642 mothers and 335 newborns of the “Nutrition in Early Life and Asthma” (NELA) birth cohort. Maternal diet during pregnancy was assessed by a validated food frequency questionnaire and a priori-defined dietary indices (relative Mediterranean Diet [rMED], alternative Mediterranean Diet [aMED], Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension [DASH], Alternate Healthy Index [AHEI], and AHEI-2010) were calculated. Biomarkers measured were: hydroperoxides, carbonyl groups, and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8OHdG) determined in maternal blood and newborn cord blood, and urinary maternal and offspring 15-F2t-isoprostane. Multivariate linear regression models were performed.ResultsMaternal rMED score was inversely associated with the maternal levels of 8OHdG at mid-pregnancy (beta per 1-point increase = −1.61; 95% CI −2.82, −0.39) and the newborn levels of hydroperoxides (beta per 1-point increase = −4.54; 95% CI −9.32, 0.25). High vs. low maternal rMED score was marginally associated with the decreased levels of 8OHdG in newborns (beta = −9.17; 95% CI −19.9, 1.63; p for trend 0.079). Maternal DASH score tended to be inversely associated with maternal urinary 15-F2t-isoprostane (beta per 1-point increase = −0.69; 95% CI, −1.44, 0.06). High vs. low maternal AHEI score was associated with reduced offspring urinary levels of 15-F2t-isoprostane (beta = −20.2; 95% CI −38.0, −2.46; p for trend 0.026).ConclusionThese results suggest that maternal adherence to healthy dietary patterns during pregnancy may reduce DNA damage and lipid oxidation in mothers and offspring.

Eating Behaviors and Dietary Patterns of Women during Pregnancy: Optimizing the Universal 'Teachable Moment'.

Understanding women’s perceptions of eating behaviors and dietary patterns can inform the ‘teachable moment’ model of pregnancy. Our objectives were to describe eating behaviors and dietary patterns in pregnancy. This was a cross-sectional, national electronic survey. Women were ≥18 years of age, living in the United States, currently pregnant or less than two years postpartum, and had internet access. Age, education, race, and marriage were included as covariates in ordinal and binary logistic regressions (significance p < 0.05). Women (n = 587 eligible) made positive or negative changes to their diets, while others maintained pre-existing eating behaviors. The majority of women did not try (84.9 to 95.1% across diets) and were unwilling to try (66.6 to 81%) specific dietary patterns during pregnancy. Concerns included not eating a balanced diet (60.1 to 65.9%), difficulty in implementation without family (63.2 to 64.8%), and expense (58.7 to 60.1%). Helpful strategies included being provided all meals and snacks (88.1 to 90.6%) and periodic consultations with a dietitian or nutritionist (85 to 86.7%). Responses differed across subgroups of parity, body mass index, and trimester, notably in women with obesity who reported healthier changes to their diet (p < 0.05). Our study underscores the importance of tailoring care early to individual needs, characteristics, and circumstances.

Maternal diet in pregnancy is associated with differences in child body mass index trajectories from birth to adolescence

Nutrition in pregnancy and accelerated childhood growth are important predictors of obesity risk. Yet, it is unknown which dietary patterns in pregnancy are associated with accelerated growth and whether there are specific periods from birth to adolescence that are most sensitive to these associations. To examine the extent to which 3 dietary indices in pregnancy [Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII), Alternate Healthy Eating Index for Pregnancy (AHEI-P), and Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS)] are associated with child BMI z-score (BMI-z) trajectories from birth to adolescence. We examined 1459 mother-child dyads from Project Viva that had FFQ data in pregnancy and ≥3 child BMI-z measurements between birth and adolescence. We used linear spline mixed-effects models to examine whether BMI-z growth rates and BMI z-scores differed by quartile of each dietary index from birth to 1 mo, 1-6 mo, 6 mo to 3 y, 3-10 y, and>10 y. The means±SDs for DII (range, -9 to+8 units), AHEI-P (range, 0-90 points), and MDS (range, 0-9 points) were -2.6±1.4 units, 61±10 points, and 4.6±2.0 points, respectively. In adjusted models, children of women in the highest (vs. lowest) DII quartile had higher BMI-z growth rates between 3-10 y (β, 0.03 SD units/y; 95% CI: 0.00-0.06) and higher BMI z-scores from 7 y through 10 y. Children of women with low adherence to a Mediterranean diet had higher BMI z-scores from 3 y through 15 y. Associations of AHEI-P with growth rates and BMI z-scores from birth through adolescence were null. A higher DII and a lower MDS in pregnancy, but not AHEI-P results, are associated with higher BMI-z trajectories during distinct growth periods from birth through adolescence. Identifying the specific dietary patterns in pregnancy associated with rapid weight gain in children could inform strategies to reduce child obesity.

Abstract MP62: Healthful Dietary Patterns in Pregnancy are Related to Lower Risks of Common Pregnancy Complications in a Longitudinal Cohort

Introduction: Healthful dietary patterns such as alternate healthy eating index (aHEI), alternate Mediterranean diet (aMED), and dietary approaches to stop hypertension (DASH) have been recommended in the U.S. to prevent chronic diseases. However, data on their relations with common pregnancy complications are sparse. Further, longitudinal dietary data in pregnancy are scarce. Hypothesis: Healthful dietary patterns ( i.e. , higher aHEI, aMED, and DASH score) in pregnancy is related to lower risks of gestational diabetes (GDM), gestational hypertension (GHTN), preeclampsia (PE), and preterm delivery (PTD). Methods: The study included 1,897 pregnant women from the NICHD Fetal Growth Studies-Singletons. Women responded to a food frequency questionnaire on their habitual diet in the past 3 months at visit 0 (gestational weeks 8-13) and a 24-hour dietary recall at visit 1 (weeks 16-22) and 2 (weeks 24-29). Cardiometabolic biomarkers ( e.g. , fasting glucose, insulin, C-reactive protein [CRP], and lipids) were measured in a sub-sample. GDM, GHTN, PE, and PTD were ascertained by medical records review. Relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of the outcome by dietary pattern scores at visit 0, 1, and 2 (GHTN, preeclampsia, PTD only) were estimated by log-binomial models adjusting covariates including pre-pregnancy BMI. Results: Both aHEI and aMED at visit 1 were significantly and inversely related to GDM risk; for example, the RRs for increasing quartiles of aHEI at visit 1 were 1.00, 0.71, 0.67, and 0.32 ( p -trend = 0.002). DASH at visit 0 and 1 was significantly and inversely related to GHTN risk; the RRs for increasing quartiles of DASH at visit 0 were 1.00, 0.90, 0.33, and 0.46 ( p -trend = 0.04). aHEI at visit 2 was significantly and inversely related to PE risk; the RRs for increasing quartiles of aHEI were 1.00, 0.85, 0.67, and 0.37 ( p -trend = 0.03). Lastly, aMED at visit 0 and DASH at visit 2 were significantly and inversely related to PTD risk, the RRs for increasing quartiles of aMED at visit 0 were 1.00, 0.81, 0.50, and 0.51 ( p -trend = 0.03). In longitudinal analyses, sustained adherence to aMED (i.e., above median score) over visits 0 and 1 was related to a 48% lower GDM risk (RR = 0.52; 95% CI: 0.28, 0.99) compared to non-adherence ( i.e. , below median score) at both visits; sustained adherence to DASH at visits 0, 1, and 2 was related to a 73% lower GHTN risk (RR = 0.27; 95% CI: 0.07, 0.97). In addition, healthful dietary patterns at visit 0 were generally related to a favorable cardiometabolic profile at visit 1 ( i.e. , lower glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, CRP, cholesterol, and LDL). Conclusions: Healthful dietary patterns in pregnancy were related to lower risks of GDM, GHTN, PE, and PTD, although the magnitude and significance varied by the timing of dietary assessment and dietary pattern. Further, sustained adherence to healthful dietary patterns over pregnancy were related to lower risks of GDM and GHTN.

How are maternal dietary patterns and maternal/fetal cytokines associated with birth weight? A path analysis.

The aim of the study was to investigate how maternal dietary patterns and maternal/fetal cytokines are associated with birth weight and whether cytokines mediate the association. A total of 469 pregnant women and their children were recruited for this prospective study. Dietary patterns in pregnancy were identified using factor analysis of data from three consecutive 24 h dietary recalls. Maternal and umbilical blood serum cytokines (adiponectin (APN), IL-6 and interferon-γ) were measured via ELISA. Path analysis was used to explore the relationships between maternal diet, cytokines and birth weight. Four dietary patterns were identified: a mainly fruit, dairy products and poultry diet (FDP); a mainly vegetables, beans and pork diet (VBP); a mainly fish, shrimp and soup diet (FS) and a mainly tuber and egg diet (TE). Path analysis showed the order of effects of dietary patterns on birth weight was FS&gt;FDP&gt;TE&gt;VBP (β=0·130, 0·109, -0·094 and 0·046, respectively). Only the TE pattern's effect was negative. Maternal and fetal APN were positively associated with birth weight (β=0·045 and 0·226, respectively), and they mediated the association between the TE pattern and birth weight (indirect effect was 5·3 %). Maternal IL-6 was negatively associated with birth weight (β=-0·067) and mediated the association between maternal FDP and VBP patterns and birth weight (indirect effects were 10·1 and 100·0 %, respectively). All variables in the path explained 33·6 % of variation. These results suggested that maternal dietary patterns in pregnancy are associated with birth weight and mediated directly and indirectly through some maternal/fetal serum cytokines.

Sleep and Dietary Patterns in Pregnancy: Findings from the GUSTO Cohort.

Evidence on the association between sleep, diet, and eating behaviors in pregnant women is lacking. We examine this in a cohort of apparently healthy pregnant women. At 26–28 weeks gestation, 497 participants completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index to assess sleep and a 24-h recall to assess dietary intake. Diet quality was assessed by the Healthy Eating Index for pregnant women in Singapore (HEI-SGP) score and previously derived dietary patterns (vegetables-fruit-rice, seafood-noodles, and pasta-cheese-meat pattern). Eating behaviors studied included the longest night-time fasting interval, frequency of consumption occasions, energy from discretionary foods, and nighttime eating. Adjusted means were estimated between poor/good quality and short/normal sleepers using linear regressions, including covariates. Good sleep quality versus poor sleep quality, was associated with better diet quality (mean HEI-SGP 54.6 vs. 52.0; p = 0.032), greater adherence to the vegetables-fruit-rice pattern (mean 0.03 vs. −0.15; p = 0.039), lesser adherence to the seafood-noodle pattern (mean −0.14 vs. 0.03; p = 0.024), and a trending lower calories from discretionary foods (mean 330.5 vs. 382.6 kcal; p = 0.073), after adjusting for covariates. After additional adjustment for anxiety, only sleep quality and the seafood-noodle pattern remained significantly associated (p = 0.018). Short sleep was not associated with any diet or eating behavior. In conclusion, good sleep quality is associated with a better diet quality and a greater adherence to the vegetable-fruit-rice pattern, but with lesser adherence to the seafood-noodle diets in pregnant women.

Dietary patterns by cluster analysis in pregnant women: relationship with nutrient intakes and dietary patterns in 7-year-old offspring.

Little is known about how dietary patterns of mothers and their children track over time. The objectives of this study are to obtain dietary patterns in pregnancy using cluster analysis, to examine women's mean nutrient intakes in each cluster and to compare the dietary patterns of mothers to those of their children. Pregnant women (n = 12 195) from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children reported their frequency of consumption of 47 foods and food groups. These data were used to obtain dietary patterns during pregnancy by cluster analysis. The absolute and energy‐adjusted nutrient intakes were compared between clusters. Women's dietary patterns were compared with previously derived clusters of their children at 7 years of age. Multinomial logistic regression was performed to evaluate relationships comparing maternal and offspring clusters. Three maternal clusters were identified: ‘fruit and vegetables’, ‘meat and potatoes’ and ‘white bread and coffee’. After energy adjustment women in the ‘fruit and vegetables’ cluster had the highest mean nutrient intakes. Mothers in the ‘fruit and vegetables’ cluster were more likely than mothers in ‘meat and potatoes’ (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 2.00; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.69–2.36) or ‘white bread and coffee’ (OR: 2.18; 95% CI: 1.87–2.53) clusters to have children in a ‘plant‐based’ cluster. However the majority of children were in clusters unrelated to their mother dietary pattern. Three distinct dietary patterns were obtained in pregnancy; the ‘fruit and vegetables’ pattern being the most nutrient dense. Mothers' dietary patterns were associated with but did not dominate offspring dietary patterns.

Dietary Patterns in Pregnancy in New Zealand—Influence of Maternal Socio-Demographic, Health and Lifestyle Factors

Exploration of dietary pattern associations within a multi-ethnic society context has been limited. We aimed to describe dietary patterns of 5664 pregnant women from the Growing Up in New Zealand study, and investigate associations between these patterns and maternal socio-demographic, place of birth, health and lifestyle factors. Participants completed a food frequency questionnaire prior to the birth of their child. Principal components analysis was used to extract dietary patterns and multivariable analyses used to determine associations. Four dietary components were extracted. Higher scores on, ‘Junk’ and ‘Traditional/White bread’, were associated with decreasing age, lower educational levels, being of Pacific or Māori ethnicity and smoking. Higher scores on, ‘Health conscious’ and ‘Fusion/Protein’, were associated with increasing age, better self-rated health, lower pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and not smoking. Higher scores on ‘Junk’ and ‘Health conscious’ were associated with being born in New Zealand (NZ), whereas higher scores on ‘Fusion/Protein’ was associated with being born outside NZ and being of non-European ethnicity, particularly Asian. High scores on the ‘Health conscious’ dietary pattern showed the highest odds of adherence to the pregnancy dietary guidelines. In this cohort of pregnant women different dietary patterns were associated with migration, ethnicity, socio-demographic characteristics, health behaviors and adherence to dietary guidelines.

Development, Epigenetics and Metabolic Programming.

It is now widely recognized that the environment in early life can have important effects on human growth and development, including the 'programming' of far-reaching effects on the risk of developing common metabolic and other noncommunicable diseases in later life. We have shown that greater childhood adiposity is associated with higher maternal adiposity, low maternal vitamin D status, excessive gestational weight gain and short duration of breast-feeding; maternal dietary patterns in pregnancy and vitamin D status have been linked with childhood bone mineral content and muscle function. Human studies have identified fetal liver blood flow adaptations and epigenetic changes as potential mechanisms that could link maternal influences with offspring body composition. In experimental studies, there is now substantial evidence that the environment during early life induces altered phenotypes through epigenetic mechanisms. Epigenetic processes, such as DNA methylation, covalent modifications of histones and non-coding RNAs, can induce changes in gene expression without a change in DNA base sequence. Such processes are involved in cell differentiation and genomic imprinting, as well as the phenomenon of developmental plasticity in response to environmental influences. Elucidation of such epigenetic processes may enable early intervention strategies to improve early development and growth.

Dietary patterns in pregnancy and birth weight.

OBJECTIVE To analyze if dietary patterns during the third gestational trimester are associated with birth weight.METHODS Longitudinal study conducted in the cities of Petropolis and Queimados, Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Southeastern Brazil, between 2007 and 2008. We analyzed data from the first and second follow-up wave of a prospective cohort. Food consumption of 1,298 pregnant women was assessed using a semi-quantitative questionnaire about food frequency. Dietary patterns were obtained by exploratory factor analysis, using the Varimax rotation method. We also applied the multivariate linear regression model to estimate the association between food consumption patterns and birth weight.RESULTS Four patterns of consumption – which explain 36.4% of the variability – were identified and divided as follows: (1) prudent pattern (milk, yogurt, cheese, fruit and fresh-fruit juice, cracker, and chicken/beef/fish/liver), which explained 14.9% of the consumption; (2) traditional pattern, consisting of beans, rice, vegetables, breads, butter/margarine and sugar, which explained 8.8% of the variation in consumption; (3) Western pattern (potato/cassava/yams, macaroni, flour/farofa/grits, pizza/hamburger/deep fried pastries, soft drinks/cool drinks and pork/sausages/egg), which accounts for 6.9% of the variance; and (4) snack pattern (sandwich cookie, salty snacks, chocolate, and chocolate drink mix), which explains 5.7% of the consumption variability. The snack dietary pattern was positively associated with birth weight (β = 56.64; p = 0.04) in pregnant adolescents.CONCLUSIONS For pregnant adolescents, the greater the adherence to snack pattern during pregnancy, the greater the baby’s birth weight.

Association between sociodemographics factors and dietary patterns during pregnancy

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between socio-demographic factors and dietary patterns in pregnancy. METHODS: Cross-sectional study with baseline data from a cohort of 421 postpartum women aged 18 and 45 years resident in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Dietary intake was evaluated with a validated food frequency questionnaire at 15 days following delivery, having as time frame the second and third pregnancy trimesters. Dietary patterns were identified using factor analysis for principal components analysis. The association between socio-demographic factors and the identified dietary patterns was assessed with multiple linear regression analysis. RESULTS: Two dietary patterns were identified: i) healthy: fruits; green vegetables; vegetables; fish; roots, corn and potato; milk and dairy and herbal tea mate, and negatively loadings for alcohol and coffee and ii) mixed: rice; bean; flour and pasta; breads; cake and cookies; soda and juice; sugar and sweets; fatty foods; meats; chicken; and eggs. The linear regression showed that the income (β=0.0002; 95%CI: 0.0002-0.0004) and schooling (β=0.0491; 95%CI: 0.0264-0.0718) were positively associated with healthy pattern, and parity (β=-0.1044; 95%CI: -0.1665- -0.0423) and skin color (β=-0.3102; 95%CI: -0.5256- -0.0947) were negatively associated. Skin color (β=0.1647; 95%CI: 0.0378- 0.2916) and marital status (β=0.1065; 95%CI: 0.0062- 0.2067) were positively associated with mixed pattern and income (β=-0.0001; 95%CI:-0.0002- -0.0001) and schooling (β=-0.0281; 95%CI: -0.0417- -0.0146) were negatively associated. CONCLUSION: Socio-demographic factors such as income, schooling, skin color, marital status and parity were associated with dietary patterns in this sample of postpartum women residents in Rio de Janeiro.

Dietary Patterns in Pregnancy and Effects on Nutrient Intake in the Mid-South: The Conditions Affecting Neurocognitive Development and Learning in Early Childhood (CANDLE) Study

Dietary patterns are sensitive to differences across socio-economic strata or cultural habits and may impact programing of diseases in later life. The purpose of this study was to identify distinct dietary patterns during pregnancy in the Mid-South using factor analysis. Furthermore, we aimed to analyze the differences in the food groups and in macro- and micronutrients among the different food patterns. The study was a cross-sectional analysis of 1155 pregnant women (mean age 26.5 ± 5.4 years; 62% African American, 35% Caucasian, 3% Other; and pre-pregnancy BMI 27.6 ± 7.5 kg/m2). Using food frequency questionnaire data collected from participants in the Conditions Affecting Neurocognitive Development and Learning in Early Childhood (CANDLE) study between 16 and 28 weeks of gestation, dietary patterns were identified using factor analysis. Three major dietary patterns, namely, Healthy, Processed, and US Southern were identified among pregnant women from the Mid-South. Further analysis of the three main patterns revealed four mixed dietary patterns, i.e., Healthy-Processed, Healthy-US Southern, Processed-US Southern, and overall Mixed. These dietary patterns were different (p < 0.001) from each other in almost all the food items, macro- and micro nutrients and aligned across socioeconomic and racial groups. Our study describes unique dietary patterns in the Mid-South, consumed by a cohort of women enrolled in a prospective study examining the association of maternal nutritional factors during pregnancy that are known to affect brain and cognitive development by age 3.

Nutritional intake and dietary patterns in pregnancy: a longitudinal study of women with lifetime eating disorders

There is limited knowledge about dietary patterns and nutrient/food intake during pregnancy in women with lifetime eating disorders (ED). The objective of the present study was to determine patterns of food and nutrient intake in women with lifetime ED as part of an existing longitudinal population-based cohort: the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. Women with singleton pregnancies and no lifetime psychiatric disorders other than ED (n 9723) were compared with women who reported lifetime (ever) ED: (anorexia nervosa (AN, n 151), bulimia nervosa (BN, n 186) or both (AN+BN, n 77)). Women reported usual food consumption using a FFQ at 32 weeks of gestation. Nutrient intakes, frequency of consumption of food groups and overall dietary patterns were examined. Women with lifetime ED were compared with control women using linear regression and logistic regression (as appropriate) after adjustment for relevant covariates, and for multiple comparisons. Women with lifetime ED scored higher on the 'vegetarian' dietary pattern; they had a lower intake of meat, which was compensated by a higher consumption of soya products and pulses compared with the controls. Lifetime AN increased the risk for a high (≥2500g/week) caffeine consumption in pregnancy. No deficiencies in mineral and vitamin intake were evident across the groups, although small differences were observed in macronutrient intakes. In conclusion, despite some differences in food group consumption, women with lifetime ED had similar patterns of nutrient intake to healthy controls. Important differences in relation to meat eating and vegetarianism were highlighted, as well as high caffeine consumption. These differences might have an important impact on fetal development.

Maternal dietary patterns in pregnancy and fetal growth in Japan: the Osaka Maternal and Child Health Study

Maternal nutritional status during pregnancy is an important determinant of fetal growth. Although the effects of several nutrients and foods have been well examined, little is known about the relationship of overall maternal diet in pregnancy to fetal growth, particularly in non-Western populations. We prospectively examined the relationship of maternal dietary patterns in pregnancy to neonatal anthropometric measurements at birth and risk of small-for-gestational-age (SGA) birth among 803 Japanese women with live-born, singleton, term deliveries. Maternal diet in pregnancy was assessed using a validated, self-administered diet history questionnaire. Dietary patterns from thirty-three predefined food groups (g/4184 kJ) were extracted by cluster analysis. The following three dietary patterns were identified: the 'meat and eggs' (n 326), 'wheat products', with a relatively high intake of bread, confectioneries and soft drinks (n 303), and 'rice, fish and vegetables' (n 174) patterns. After adjustment for potential confounders, women in the 'wheat products' pattern had infants with the significantly lowest birth weight (P = 0·045) and head circumference (P = 0·036) among those in the three dietary patterns. Compared with women in the 'rice, fish and vegetables' pattern, women in the 'wheat products' pattern had higher odds of having a SGA infant for weight (multivariate OR 5·2, 95 % CI 1·1, 24·4), but this was not the case for birth length or head circumference. These results suggest that a diet high in bread, confectioneries, and soft drinks and low in fish and vegetables during pregnancy might be associated with a small birth weight and an increased risk of having a SGA infant.

Maternal dietary patterns in pregnancy and the association with small-for-gestational-age infants

Maternal nutritional status before and during pregnancy is important for the growth and development of the fetus. The effects of pre-pregnancy nutrition (estimated by maternal size) are well documented. There is little information in today's Western society on the effect of maternal nutrition during pregnancy on the fetus. The aim of the study was to describe dietary patterns of a cohort of mothers during pregnancy (using principal components analysis with a varimax rotation) and assess the effect of these dietary patterns on the risk of delivering a small-for-gestational-age (SGA) baby. The study was a case-control study investigating factors related to SGA. The population was 1714 subjects in Auckland, New Zealand, born between October 1995 and November 1997, about half of whom were born SGA ( < or = 10th percentile for sex and gestation). Maternal dietary information was collected using FFQ after delivery for the first and last months of pregnancy. Three dietary patterns (traditional, junk and fusion) were defined. Factors associated with these dietary patterns when examined in multivariable analyses included marital status, maternal weight, maternal age and ethnicity. In multivariable analysis, mothers who had higher 'traditional' diet scores in early pregnancy were less likely to deliver a SGA infant (OR = 0.86; 95 % CI 0.75, 0.99). Maternal diet, particularly in early pregnancy, is important for the development of the fetus. Socio-demographic factors tend to be significantly related to dietary patterns, suggesting that extra resources may be necessary for disadvantaged mothers to ensure good nutrition in pregnancy.

Women’s Dietary Patterns Change Little from Before to During Pregnancy , ,

Principal component analysis (PCA) is a popular method of dietary patterns analysis, but our understanding of its use to describe changes in dietary patterns over time is limited. Using a FFQ, we assessed the diets of 12,572 nonpregnant women aged 20–34 y from Southampton, UK, of whom 2270 and 2649 became pregnant and provided complete dietary data in early and late pregnancy, respectively. Intakes of white bread, breakfast cereals, cakes and biscuits, processed meat, crisps, fruit and fruit juices, sweet spreads, confectionery, hot chocolate drinks, puddings, cream, milk, cheese, full-fat spread, cooking fats and salad oils, red meat, and soft drinks increased in pregnancy. Intakes of rice and pasta, liver and kidney, vegetables, nuts, diet cola, tea and coffee, boiled potatoes, and crackers decreased in pregnancy. PCA at each time point produced 2 consistent dietary patterns, labeled prudent and high-energy. At each time point in pregnancy, and for both the prudent and high-energy patterns, we derived 2 dietary pattern scores for each woman: a natural score, based on the pattern defined at that time point, and an applied score, based on the pattern defined before pregnancy. Applied scores are preferred to natural scores to characterize changes in dietary patterns over time because the scale of measurement remains constant. Using applied scores, there was a very small mean decrease in prudent diet score in pregnancy and a very small mean increase in high-energy diet score in late pregnancy, indicating little overall change in dietary patterns in pregnancy.

Dietary patterns in pregnancy and respiratory and atopic outcomes in childhood

Background:Studies of the relation between maternal diet in pregnancy and respiratory and atopic outcomes in the offspring have focused on the effects of individual nutrients and foods rather than dietary...

Determinantes sociales de los patrones dietéticos durante el embarazo

Objectives To identify dietary patterns in pregnancy and describe their relationship with sociodemographic factors, smoking, and body mass index. As a secondary objective, intakes were evaluated relative to current dietary recommendations for pregnant women. Methods Cross-sectional assessment of dietary intakes in 473 pregnant women from the Island of Menorca (Spain) was performed. Dietary patterns were identified using a principal components analysis, and dietary quality was assessed by comparing food group intakes with recommended intakes in pregnancy. Results Two dietary patterns were identified, one characterized by high intakes of energy-dense foods and low intakes of fruits and vegetables («caloric»), and the other by high intakes of vegetables, legumes, fish, meat, rice and pasta («healthy»). Scores for the caloric pattern were higher in immigrants, smokers, parous women and women with only primary school education (p<0,05). Scores for the healthy pattern were higher in women originally from other parts of Spain and immigrants (p<0,05). No associations were found with the remaining variables. Adherence to dietary recommendations was high for fruit, meat and especially dairy products, while intakes of vegetables, cereals and legumes were only one-third of recommended levels. Conclusions Dietary patterns during pregnancy were similar to previously reported patterns in the general population, showing consistent associations with sociodemographic factors and smoking. There were substantial deficiencies in intakes of cereals, legumes and vegetables in all women, suggesting the need for educational interventions and monitoring during prenatal care to improve the quality of dietary habits during pregnancy.