Dietary intakes of an Algerian pregnant women population

Abstract

Introduction. Nutrition during pregnancy has a significant impact on women health, but also on the long-term health of their offspring. There are a few national data on the usual dietary intake of pregnant women. Objective. To assess the nutritional intake of pregnant population by the 24-hour dietary recall method repeated over 3 days. Population and methods. A cross-sectional study was carried out using a questionnaire among 100 pregnant women receiving prenatal care at a major mother and child specialized hospital in the Wilaya of Sidi-Bel-Abbés (Algeria). Results. The average intakes of energy, fats and carbohydrates were lower than the recommendations, while those of proteins and dietary fibers were higher. In most women, protein needs were covered whereas carbohydrates and lipids needs were not covered. Proteins represented 16.7%, carbohydrate 55.1% and lipids 28.2% of total energy intake (TEI). Contribution of food groups to TEI was as follows: cereal-based products 23.5%, fruits and vegetables 15.2%, dairy products 15%, sweet products 14.7% and meats 12.6%. Average intakes observed in micronutrients were lower than nutritional requirements, except for vitamins (Vit.) C, B6, B12, beta-carotene, and retinol. More than 40% of women were below the recommendations for Vit. C, D, A, E, B1, B2, B3, B6, B9, B12, magnesium, calcium and iron. Conclusion. Pregnancy is a privileged moment for carrying out awareness raising actions in nutrition area. Therefore, it should be used to provide advice in favor of a healthy diet and maintaining physical activity in this population.