Assessment of vitamin A and selected nutrients in a sample of pregnant women from Montreal, using the EAR cut-point method

ABSTRACT

Excessive or deficient maternal vitamin A intake may result in abnormalities in the development of the human embryo. During pregnancy, women, experience fluctuations in food intake and appetite due to hormonal changes as the fetus develops. The objective of this project was to assess intake of vitamin A and other selected nutrients during pregnancy among a group of women in Montreal,Canada. We examined whether nutrient intake changes over the course of pregnancy. Two seven-day food records were analyzed for a sample of 52 pregnant women in the 1st and 3rd trimesters. The EAR [Estimated Average Requirement] Cut-point Method was used to assess nutrient adequacy. Paired t-test showed that there was no difference in mean nutrient intake between the 1st and 3rd trimesters. The probability of vitamin A intake being less than the EAR was 19% and this value was less than values shown in NHANES III [25-50%]. Vitamin E [98%], folate [96%], zinc [42%], and vitamin B6 [42%] intakes showed the highest probability of being less than the EAR. Similar high values of inadequacy for the same nutrients were also shown in NHANES III and CDFII. The probability of inadequacy of other nutrients was below 27% and was similar to findings from previous studies in North America. The mean vitamin A intake using the new RAE measurement unit [737 micro g] was significantly lower [p < 0.05] than the value using the previous RE unit [1081 micro g]. This finding confirms theoverestimation of vitamin A intake in the past. Vitamin A intake based on the EAR Cut-point Method was acceptable among this group of women and showed less inadequacy than in NHANES III survey