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Dietary intake and use of dietary supplements in relation to demographic variables among pregnant Finnish women

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 March 2007

Tuula Arkkola ,
Ulla Uusitalo ,
Minna Pietikäinen ,
Johanna Metsälä ,
Carina Kronberg-Kippilä ,
Maijaliisa Erkkola ,
Riitta Veijola ,
Mikael Knip ,
Suvi M. Virtanen  and
Marja-Leena Ovaskainen
Tuula Arkkola*
Affiliation:
Department of Paediatrics, 90014 University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
Ulla Uusitalo
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology and Chronic Disease Prevention, National Public Health Institute, Mannerheimintie 166, 00300 Helsinki, Finland
Minna Pietikäinen
Affiliation:
Tampere School of Public Health, 33014 University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland
Johanna Metsälä
Affiliation:
Tampere School of Public Health, 33014 University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland
Carina Kronberg-Kippilä
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology and Chronic Disease Prevention, National Public Health Institute, Mannerheimintie 166, 00300 Helsinki, Finland
Maijaliisa Erkkola
Affiliation:
Tampere School of Public Health, 33014 University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland
Riitta Veijola
Affiliation:
Department of Paediatrics, 90014 University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
Mikael Knip
Affiliation:
Hospital for Children and Adolescents, 00014 University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Suvi M. Virtanen
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology and Chronic Disease Prevention, National Public Health Institute, Mannerheimintie 166, 00300 Helsinki, Finland Tampere School of Public Health, 33014 University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland Research Unit, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
Marja-Leena Ovaskainen
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology and Chronic Disease Prevention, National Public Health Institute, Mannerheimintie 166, 00300 Helsinki, Finland
*
*Corresponding author: Dr Tuula Arkkola, fax +358 9 47448591, email [email protected]
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Abstract

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Proper nutrition during pregnancy may be important for maternal health and fetal growth and development. In Finland, targeted recommendations are given to guide pregnant women in their food choice and dietary supplement use so that they may obtain adequate nutritional status and meet the increased need for nutrients. The aims of the present study were to examine food choices, nutrient intake and dietary supplement use of pregnant Finnish women in association with demographic variables. One thousand and seventy-five families were invited to a birth cohort study during 1998–9. Mothers of 797 newborns completed a validated 181-item food-frequency questionnaire from which the food and nutrient intakes were calculated. The information about supplement use was collected concerning the whole pregnancy. The results of the present study suggest that healthy food choices are rather common among pregnant Finnish women and the choices are positively correlated with age and education. Nutrient supplements were used by 85 % of the women. Supplements were favoured by the older and well-educated women and by those who had normal weight before pregnancy. Of the women in the present study, 31 % received vitamin A-containing supplements, although it is not recommended during pregnancy. Taking food and supplementation into account, the intake of vitamin D did not meet the dietary recommendation and folic acid intake was below recommendation in 44 % of the women. Therefore there seemed to be unnecessary nutrient supplementation and at the same time lack of relevant supplementation among these pregnant women.

Keywords

PregnancyFood choiceNutrient intakeDietary supplement use
Type
Research Article
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 96 , Issue 5 , November 2006 , pp. 913 - 920
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 2006

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