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Pre‐pregnancy micronutrient intake assessed by food frequency questionnaire in the Alberta Pregnancy Outcomes and Nutrition (APrON) Study
Author(s) -
Ramage Stephanie M,
Berglund Casey,
McCargar Linda J,
Bell Rhonda C
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.26.1_supplement.1004.7
Subject(s) - micronutrient , medicine , pregnancy , dietary reference intake , food frequency questionnaire , reference daily intake , environmental health , body mass index , food group , cohort , vitamin d and neurology , vitamin , nutrient , gynecology , endocrinology , biology , ecology , genetics , pathology
Nutrient intake prior to pregnancy may impact maternal health and fetal development. A food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used to retrospectively assess diet and supplement intake over the year prior to pregnancy in the first cohort of the APrON study. Fifteen participants were excluded based on extremes in average caloric intake (<600kcal/day, n=3; >3500kcal/day, n=12). The FFQ was successfully completed by 491 women with a mean age of 31 ± 4 years and a mean body mass index of 24.0 ± 4.6 kg/m 2 . Key micronutrients chosen for assessment were iron, calcium and vitamin D. Mean (± Standard Deviation) intakes from food and supplements were 21.5 ± 9.8 mg of iron, 1225.8 ± 565.2mg of calcium, and 11.7 ± 6.4 μg of vitamin D. The proportion of women meeting the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) from food and supplements during this potentially critical period was low for vitamin D (38%) and moderate for iron (64%) and calcium (62%). These data illustrate a low to moderate intake of key micronutrients in Alberta women prior to pregnancy. Assessment and counseling to improve key micronutrient intakes of women in their child‐bearing years may be warranted. Research supported by Alberta Innovates ‐ Health Solutions.