Factors affecting supplemented food consumption in

pregnant women

LITERATURES REVIEW
Nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals, are best derived from food sources. However, you
might find it difficult to eat a balanced diet on a regular basis, especially if you have special food
considerations, like allergies, that make certain items off-limits. Food supplements -- also called
dietary supplements -- can help you get the nutrients you lack from your regular diet.Foods and
beverages that are “nutrient-dense,” or rich in nutrients are very important of pregnant women
also, nutrient-dense foods are packed with vitamins, minerals and other nutrients, and have
relatively few calories. Choosing a variety of foods from all five food groups (grains,
vegetables,fruits, dairy, and meat and beans) will help to ensure that a woman gets the nutrition
she and her growing baby need. However, there are a few nutrient-dense foods that pregnant
women should avoid due to food safety concerns(Becker et al. 2006).

In recent Belgian study differences in dietary behavior between pregnant and non pregnant
women were reported. Pregnant women reported higher consumption of fruit, which resulted in
higher fiber intake. They also reported higher consumption of beef and milk products, as well as
higher fat intake. No difference in fish consumption between pregnant and non-pregnant women
was seen. According to results reported by pregnant women in Finland have an adequate nutrient
intake from their diet with the exception of vitamin D,folic acid and iron (Erkkola et al. 1998).

The latest national nutrition recommendations for pregnant women in Finland are from. The
dietary guidelines are based on the Finnish Nutrition Recommendations issued by the National
Nutrition Council in 1998, and the latest research. The present Finnish Nutrition
Recommendations were published in 2005.They are based on Nordic Nutrition
Recommendations which were approved in 2004 by the Nordic Council of Ministers (Mathews
F,2000).
A proper diet during pregnancy contains sufficient amounts of vegetables, fruit, berries,
wholegrain products, vegetable oil, vegetable oil-based margarine, fish, low-fat meat, and fat-
free milk products. All pregnant women in Finland are recommended to use 10 μg of
supplementary vitamin D from October to March. The requirement of supplementary calcium,
iron and folic acid are estimated individually. Vitamin B12 is an additionally required
supplement for vegan pregnant women. A vegan diet is not recommended for pregnant women in
Finland because there is not enough evidence concerning its nutritional sufficiency. Vitamin A-
containing supplements, liver, and liver products are not recommended because a high retinol
intake may increase the risk of malformation and miscarriage. Beta-carotene does not have this
effect and maybe consumed during pregnancy. There are specially planned multivitamin
supplements for pregnant women available in Finland. Alcohol use is not recommended during
pregnancy because consumption has been linked to poor birth outcomes and long-term
developmental problems in the offspring. Even low levels of alcohol prenatally can have adverse
consequences (Bailey & Sokol2008).

It is agreed that the preconception period and pregnancy could be life events leading to increased
general nutritional awareness that might influence women’s future nutrition-related behavior
Evaluated the status of dietary and health counseling in prenatal and antenatal clinics in Finland
and found that the dietary recommendations were not fully adhered to. For example, only 60% of
the nurses in prenatal clinics had advices the use of vitamin D supplements. However, 90% of
the subjects in prenatal clinics considered dietary counseling to be adequate (Paturi M,2008).
REFERENCE

Becker W, Alexander J, Andersen S, Aro A, Fogelholm M, Lyhne N, Meltzer HM, Pedersen

AN, Pedersen JI & Thorsdottir I (2006) Nordic nutrition recommendations. Ugeskr Laeger
168: 76–77. Borrud LG, Krebs-Smith SM, Friedman L & Guenther P.M. (1993) Food and
nutrient intakes of pregnant and lactating women in the United States.
Erkkola M, Kaila M, Nwaru BI, et al. (2009) Maternal vitamin D intake during pregnancy is
inversely associated with asthma and allergic rhinitis in 5-year-old children. Clin Exp Allergy
39: 875–882.
Mathews F, Yudkin P, Smith RF & Neil A (2000) Nutrient intakes during pregnancy: the
influence of smoking status and age. J Epidemiol Community Health 54: 17–23.
Bailey BA & Sokol RJ (2008) Pregnancy and alcohol use: evidence and recommendations for
prenatal care. Cline Obstet Gynecol 51: 436–444.
Paturi M, Tapanainen H, Reinivuo H & Pietinen P (2008) The national FINDIET 2007 survey.
Publications of the National Public Health Institute, B23/2008. Helsinki, Helsinki
University Press.