Micronutrient Intake Is Inadequate for a Sample of Pregnant African-American Women

Background: Micronutrient intake is critical for fetal development and positive pregnancy outcomes. Little is known about the adequacy of micronutrient intake in pregnant African-American women.

Objective: To describe nutrient sufficiency and top food groups contributing to dietary intake of select micronutrients in low-income pregnant African-American women and determine whether micronutrient intake varies with early pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and/or gestational weight gain.

Design: Secondary analysis of data collected in a cohort study of pregnant African-American women.

Participants/setting: A total of 93 women aged 18 to 36 years, <20 weeks pregnant, with early pregnancy BMIs ≥18.5 and <40.0. The study was conducted during 2008 to 2012 with participants from university-affiliated obstetrics clinics in an urban setting in the northeastern United States.

Main outcome measures: Proportion of women with dietary intakes below Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) or Adequate Intake (AI) for vitamin D, folate, iron, calcium, and choline throughout pregnancy. Top food groups from which women derived these micronutrients was also determined.

Statistical analyses performed: Descriptive statistics included means, standard deviations, and percentages. Percent of women reaching EAR or AI was calculated. The χ² test was used to assess micronutrient intake differences based on early pregnancy BMI and gestational weight gain.

Results: A large percentage of pregnant women did not achieve the EAR or AI from dietary sources alone; EAR for folate (66%), vitamin D (100%), iron (89%), and AI for choline (100%). Mean micronutrient intake varied throughout pregnancy. Top food sources included reduced-fat milk, eggs, and mixed egg dishes, pasta dishes, and ready-to-eat cereal.

Conclusions: The majority of study participants had dietary micronutrient intake levels below EAR/AI throughout pregnancy. Findings suggest that practitioners should evaluate dietary adequacy in women to avoid deficits in micronutrient intake during pregnancy. Top food sources of these micronutrients can be considered when assisting women in improving dietary intake.