Nutrition quality of pregnant women based on body mass index and the content of selected nutrients and energy in the daily diet

Abstract

Objectives: BMI of pregnant women is influenced by the percentage of energy and the content of individual nutrients in the daily diet. The aim of the study was to evaluate nutrition quality based on BMI values of women with physiological course of pregnancy and to determine correlations between BMI and the content of selected nutrients and energy in the daily diet. Material and methods: The study was carried out among healthy women between the first and fourth day after childbirth. It was conducted using a standardized questionnaire of the National Health Institute: DHQ II. In total, 103 women met the inclusion criteria. The analyses were performed with the use of a data analysis software system called Statistica 10.0. Results: The mean BMI before pregnancy was 22.30 ± 3.19 kg/m2. The mean BMI before delivery was 27.87 ± 3.9 kg/m2. The analysis of selected nutrient intake in relation to the nutritional status based on BMI before pregnancy showed no statistically significant differences. It was found that women with normal BMI (18.5–24.9 kg/m2) consumed foods of lower energy value than those with BMI over 25 kg/m2. These differences were statistically significant for daily energy intake and for the mean content of carbohydrates in the daily diet. Intake of selected nutrients was correlated in a statistically significant way with the nutritional status during pregnancy based on pre-partum BMI values. The higher the percentage of energy in the daily diet, the higher the pre-partum BMI values. Similar correlations were found for total fats, carbohydrates, protein, saturated fatty acids, mono and polyunsaturated fatty acids, calcium, magnesium, vitamin D, water contained in foods, fluids and total sugars. Conclusions: Dietary energy and carbohydrate content has a significant impact on BMI of pregnant women. During pregnancy, BMI increases with an increase in saturated fatty acid consumption. Intake of selected nutrients was correlated in a statistically significant way with the nutritional status during pregnancy based on BMI values.