Restriction lift date: 2024-09-30
Nutrient intakes, compliance with recommendations and key sources in women of child-bearing age (18-50y) in Ireland
Loading...
Date
2022-02-09
Authors
O'Mahony, Abigail
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University College Cork
Published Version
Abstract
Background:
Women’s pre-conceptional health (including nutritional status) is important for both
the health of the individual themselves and also for the lifelong health of any occurring
offspring. However, it has been estimated that up to 50% of pregnancies are
unplanned, thus optimal nutritional status is important for all women of child-bearing
age (WCBA) not just those with pregnancy intentions. Despite the accumulation of
evidence of the importance of nutritional status at this life-stage, nutrient
recommendations for WCBA for the most part don’t differ from recommendations for
other population groups. The notable exception to this is that all WCBA are
recommended to take a folic acid supplement to reduce the risk of neural tube defects
(NTDs) in an occurring pregnancy.
Objectives:
The overall aim of this thesis was to estimate the nutrient intakes among WCBA in
Ireland. The first aim was to estimate the mean daily intake of energy, macronutrients,
dietary fibre and salt, to determine compliance with dietary guidelines and to identify
the key dietary sources of these nutrients in WCBA. A further aim was to estimate the
mean daily intake of micronutrients, the prevalence of inadequate intakes and risk of
excessive intakes and to identify the key dietary sources of micronutrient intakes in
this population group.
Methods:
The analysis for this research was based on data from the subset of WCBA (18-50
years) (n 487) in the Irish National Adult Nutrition Survey (NANS) (2008-2010). Food
and beverage intakes were estimated using a 4-day semi-weighed food record.
Nutrient intakes were estimated using WISP® which uses data from ‘McCance and
Widdowson’s the Composition of Foods’, Sixth Edition (plus all nine supplemental
volumes). During the NANS, modifications were made to the food composition
database to include recipes of composite dishes, fortified foods, nutritional
supplements, generic Irish foods that were commonly consumed and new foods on the
market. The mean daily intake (MDI) of energy and nutrients were estimated by
summing the total amount of energy and each nutrient consumed and dividing the total
by the number of recording days (four) using SPSS® Version 26. Compliance with
dietary guidelines was examined for macronutrients, dietary fibre and salt. The
prevalence of inadequate micronutrient intakes (%<estimated average requirement
(EAR)) was examined (excluding under-reporters for energy intake (31%)) and the
risk of excessive intakes (%> upper levels (UL)) was also determined. The percent
contribution of specific food groups to mean daily intakes of energy, macro- and
micro-nutrients was calculated by the mean proportion method.
Results:
This study found that that while protein intakes are sufficient among WCBA in
Ireland, a large proportion of this population have total fat intakes above
recommendations (42%) and carbohydrate intakes below recommendations (59%).
This population group also have high intakes of saturated fat (13% of total energy
(%TE)), free sugar (9%TE) and salt (5.5g/d from food sources only) and low intakes
of dietary fibre (17g/d). Important sources of energy in the diet were ‘cereal & cereal
products’ (including potatoes) ‘meat, fish & eggs’ and ‘dairy & dairy products’ which
when combined contributed over two-thirds of energy intake on average. However
‘top-shelf’ foods (i.e. ‘sugars, confectionery, preserves & savoury snacks’, ‘biscuits,
cakes & pastries’ and ‘sugar-sweetened beverages’) also contributed a high proportion
of energy intake (21%) in addition to contributing significantly to intakes of fat (15%),
saturated fat (16%) and free sugars (59%). This population group also have high
intakes of saturated fat (13% of total energy (%TE)), free sugar (9%TE) and salt
(5.5g/d from food sources only) and low intakes of dietary fibre (17g/d). With regard
to micronutrients, significant proportions of WCBA have inadequate intakes of
vitamin D (93%), vitamin C (48%), calcium (41%), folate (32%), iodine (26%),
riboflavin (25%), vitamin A (18%), magnesium (18%) and iron (10%). There was little
risk of excessive intakes of micronutrients among WCBA with negligible proportions
(<3%) of this population having intakes of vitamin B6 and iron greater than the UL.
Important sources of vitamins and minerals were milk and milk products, meats,
breads and cereals, especially fortified breakfast cereals, and fruits and vegetables.
Conclusions:
In summary, this study has found unfavourable intakes of total and saturated fat,
carbohydrate, sugar, salt and dietary fibre together with low intakes of key
micronutrients in WCBA in Ireland. The data presented in this study will have
important implications for public health guidance for this vulnerable population group.
Furthermore, information about the relative contributions of specific foods to nutrient
intakes will be useful to both policy makers and the food industry to develop targeted
dietary strategies to improve the diets of WCBA in Ireland.
Description
Keywords
Child-bearing age , Nutrient intakes , Recommendations
Citation
O'Mahony, A. 2022. Nutrient intakes, compliance with recommendations and key sources in women of child- bearing age (18-50y) in Ireland. MSc Thesis, University College Cork.