[Nutritional value of the diet in healthy pregnant women. Results of a nutrition survey of pregnant women]

Abstract

Goal: The purpose of the present paper is to describe the level of nutritional adequacy of the regular diet of pregnant women belonging to our health-care area.

Scope: Health-care area of Valme Hospital, Seville.

Design: Randomized transversal descriptive study.

Subjects: Forty-nine pregnant women during their first trimester.

Interventions: The daily intake was assessed by means of a 24-hour reminder sheet and a weekly consumption survey. The data obtained were compared with the recommended daily intake of nutrients and with the recommended daily allowances for various foods. At the same time, an anthropometric and basic analysis were also carried out.

Results: The calorie intake was as recommended (2,208 +/- 475 kcal/day). The diet contained excessive amounts of proteins (88 +/- 21 g/day) and fat (97 +/- 27 g/day), with a predominance of monounsaturated fats (46.9 +/- 5.5%) over saturated (36.6 +/- 7.2%) or polyunsaturated fats (15.1 +/- 7%), (p < 0.0005). Nonetheless, the diet was short on carbohydrates (44%), fibre (18 +/- 4.9 g/day), calcium (948 +/- 353 mg/day), iron (13.4 +/- 3.1 mg/day) and vitamin B6 (1.1 +/- 0.8 mg/day) (p < 0.0005), and extremely short on folic acid (172 +/- 101 micrograms/day), (p < 0.0005). In the assessment of the diet in terms of daily allowances, this was sufficient in fruit (2.3 +/- 1.8/day), but short on dairy products (1.9 +/- 1.1/day) and extremely short on vegetables (1 +/- 0.4/day), (p < 0.0005). Only 2% of the subjects fulfilled with the recommended daily intake for key vitamins and minerals. The prevalence of obesity (BMI > 30 kg/m2) was 18.4%.

Conclusions: The normal diet of pregnant women in our health-care area is short on calcium, iron, folic acid and dietary fibre, although with an excess of animal protein and fat.