Assessment of dietary intake by food frequency questionnaire among pregnant women

Abstract

Pregnancy is marked by high accumulation of nutrients in the form of maternal and foetal tissue growth. Nutrition during\rpregnancy is of great importance because foetus draws its nourishment from mother. Child bearing imposes great strain,\reven it is normal physiological process it increases considerably the nutritional requirements of mother. The present\rstudy was also conducted to assess the dietary intake of pregnant women. About 60 subjects were selected randomly\rfrom Ludhiana city. Information regarding socio-economic status, medical history, food frequency consumption pattern,\ranthropometric measurements was recorded by filling up questionnaire. Daily nutrient intake was calculated by using\r‘dietcal software'. Complications were present in majority of subjects. Majority of subjects consumed wheat, milk, fats\rand oils, sugar and jaggery on the daily basis from all the food groups. Intake of macronutrients i.e. energy, protein as\rwell as micronutrients such as folic acid, vitamin B12, iron and calcium intake was found to be inadequate as compared\rto RDA.