Determinants of the Essential Elements and Vitamins Intake and Status during Pregnancy: A Descriptive Study in Polish Mother and Child Cohort

Abstract

The study objective was to identify determinants of essential elements and vitamins intake, and microelements and vitamins concentration in blood among pregnant women from Poland. Based on the data from food frequency questionnaires and information about supplements taken (n = 1252), daily supply of six elements (calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, copper, selenium) and nine vitamins (folate, vitamins A, E, C, B1, B2, B3, B6, B12) was calculated. Zinc, copper, selenium (n = 340), vitamin A and E (n = 358) concentration was determined in blood collected during pregnancy. Most of the women did not meet the demand for essential elements and vitamins with a diet. About 94% of the respondents declared supplements use. The women with higher education, indicating leisure-time, physical activity and multiparity had a higher chance of meeting the average demand for the majority of the analyzed nutrients. On the other hand, factors such as BMI < 18.5kg/m², a higher level of stress, and late first medical-care visit were associated with a lower chance of meeting the recommendations. Higher socio-economic status was a determinant of a higher selenium concentration in plasma (β = 3.1; 95%CI: 0.2-5.9), whereas BMI ≥ 25 kg/m², and multiparity of a higher copper concentration in plasma (β = 0.2; 95%CI: 0.03-0.4; β = 0.2; 95%CI: 0.1-0.4). Higher plasma concentration of vitamin E was noted among women older than 30 years of age comparing to those who were 30 or younger (β = 1.5; 95%CI: 0.6-2.4). Although more studies are required, especially such based on laboratory measures, our results indicate target groups for dietary interventions during pregnancy for children's optimal health and development.

Keywords: copper; diet; environmental determinants; essential elements; plasma; pregnancy; selenium; vitamins; zinc.

Figure 1

Intake of essential elements (A) and vitamins (B) from diet and total intake (from diet and supplementation) according to daily intake category: Below EAR, Meeting EAR. Note: EAR (Estimated Average Requirement) for essential elements and vitamins during pregnancy are presented in Supplementary Materials (Table S1).

Figure 2

Adjusted effects of the explanatory factors for the adequacy of intake of selected essential elements (A) and vitamins (B) from dietary (blue) and total (dietary and supplementation) (red) sources, estimated by multivariable logistic regression models. For iron intake from dietary sources multivariable modelling was not feasible, because only 2 mothers attained recommended level. For folate intake from dietary sources multivariable modelling was not feasible, because only 6 mothers attained the recommended level. Reference groups: maternal age ≤ 30 years; maternal education ≤ 12 years; occupational activity between the 8th–12th weeks of pregnancy—no; SES—low/medium; pre-pregnancy BMI (kg/m²)—18.5–24.99; LTPA—no; PSS < 17 points; place of residence (thousands of inhabitants) ≥ 100; season for data collection—November–April; parity—0; week of pregnancy of the 1st medical-care visit ≤ 6.