Abstract

In Japan, almost one-quarter of young women in their 20s are lean, with a body mass index less than 18.5 kg/m2, and the number of thin pregnant women has also increased. Although the effects of several nutrients and foods have been well examined, little is known regarding the current status of foods and nutrients intake during pregnancy. The purpose of our pilot study was to investigate the current status among nutrients and foods intake during pregnancy, and parity.
Study subjects who were recruited 3-4 days after delivery were admitted to three maternity hospitals in Miyagi Prefecture in 2009. We analyzed 113 postpartum women. The subjects were divided into two groups according to the parity: 52 nulliparas and 61 multiparas. The questionnaire contained the following information: age, body mass index, gestational weight gain, parity, occupation, smoking habits, infant status (gestational weeks and birth weight) and a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) inquiring about foods. We examined categorical data using the chi-square test, and compared continuous variables using Student’s t-test.
Among the major macronutrients(carbohydrate, protein and fat), the multiparas group showed significantly higher fat intake than the nulliparas group. The nulliparas group showed significantly higher carbohydrate intake than the multiparas group.
Among food intakes, the multiparas group showed a higher intake of fish and a lower intake of fruits compared with the nulliparas group. Among the proportion of frequency of fish intake in both group, less than the nulliparas group had frequency of fish intake than did the multiparas group.
Our pilot study shows that the diet of Japanese pregnant women is insufficient and far below the recommended levels. Although fish intake is also insufficient, the proportion of fish intake increases with increasing parity. Pregnancy can be an opportune time to improve nutrition and presents an ideal time for promotion of health activities.