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Nutrient intake from food among women of childbearing age ‐ is the burden of nutrient inadequacies growing in the USA?
Author(s) -
Rai Deshanie,
Fulgoni Victor L,
McBurney Michael,
Chapman-Novakofski Karen
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.630.2
Subject(s) - nutrient , medicine , environmental health , pregnancy , incidence (geometry) , gerontology , national health and nutrition examination survey , demography , population , biology , ecology , genetics , physics , sociology , optics
Currently, we have little understanding of nutrient intakes among women of childbearing age within the U.S.A. This information is relevant given the growing incidence of metabolic complications during pregnancy; accumulating evidence that maternal body weight gain and nutrient intakes prior to and during pregnancy may predict weight gain, body composition and incidence of chronic disease during infancy and childhood. The objective of this study was to evaluate nutrient intakes in women of childbearing age and to ascertain the influence of ethnicity and income. The 2003–2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data were used to assess nutrient intakes among White (n=1560), African‐American (n=889) and Mexican‐American (n=761) women 19–50 years old. Poverty‐Income Ratio (PIR) was used as an index of family income. African American women had the lowest intake of fiber, folate, vitamin A, calcium and magnesium (p < 0.05). Women (31–50 years) with a PIR of ≤ 1.85 had a significantly lower intake of almost all nutrients analyzed (p < 0.05). Irrespective of ethnicity and income, a significant percentage of the women surveyed were not consuming the recommended amounts of several key nutrients along with fiber. For example, ~80% had vitamin A intake below the RDA and ~70% had calcium intakes below adequate intake. These findings may be a useful resource to guide efforts focusing on nutrition science advocacy and policy in health care settings, government, academia, and private industries.