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High-Fiber Diet during Pregnancy Characterized by More Fruit and Vegetable Consumption
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

High-Fiber Diet during Pregnancy Characterized by More Fruit and Vegetable Consumption

Rachelle Ann Pretorius and Debra J. Palmer
Nutrients, Vol.13(1), 35
2021
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Published796.60 kBDownloadView
CC BY V4.0 Open Access

Abstract

pregnancy nutrition dietary fiber fruit vegetables
Higher dietary fiber intakes during pregnancy may have the potential health benefits of increasing gut microbiome diversity, lowering the risk of glucose intolerance and pre-eclampsia, achieving appropriate gestational weight gain, and preventing constipation. In this observational cohort study, we have assessed the dietary fiber intakes of 804 women in late pregnancy, using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (SQ-FFQ). Overall, the median (interquartile range) dietary fiber intake was 24.1 (19.0–29.7) grams per day (g/day). Only 237/804 (29.5%) women met the recommended Adequate Intake (AI) of dietary fiber during pregnancy of 28 g/day. Women consuming the highest quartile of fiber intakes (34.8 (IQR 32.1–39.5) g/day) consumed more fruit, especially apples and bananas, than women consuming the lowest quartile of fiber intakes (15.9 (IQR 14.4–17.5) g/day). These women in the highest fiber-intake quartile were older (p < 0.01), more had completed further education after secondary school (p = 0.04), and they also consumed more vegetables (67 g/day) compared to the women in the lowest fiber consumption quartile (17 g vegetables/day). Bread intakes of 39–42 g/day were consistent in quantities consumed across all four fiber-intake quartiles. Our findings suggest that antenatal education advice targeting increased fruit and vegetable consumption before and during pregnancy may be a simple strategy to achieve increased total dietary fiber intakes to reach recommended quantities.

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UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#3 Good Health and Well-Being
#12 Responsible Consumption & Production

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InCites Highlights

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
Citation topics
1 Clinical & Life Sciences
1.72 Obstetrics & Gynecology
1.72.182 Maternal-Fetal Health
Web Of Science research areas
Nutrition & Dietetics
ESI research areas
Agricultural Sciences
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