Providing Infants with the Best Start in Life: Identification of Nutrient Gaps in Women of Childbearing Age in the United States. (29th May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Devarshi, Prasad; Legette, LeeCole; Higgins, Kelly; Grant, Ryan; Mitmesser, Susan Hazels
• Is Part Of: Current developments in nutrition. Volume 4(2020)Supplement 2
• Page Start: 971
• Page End: 971
• Publication Date: 2020-05-29
• Subjects: Nutrition -- Periodicals; Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Nutrition; Periodicals; Periodicals; Fulltext; Internet Resources; Periodicals; 612.3
• DOI: 10.1093/cdn/nzaa054_043
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2475-2991

Abstract

Abstract: Objectives: Folate, iron, iodine, DHA, choline, zinc, vitamin A, D, B6 and B12 are key nutrients for supporting the baby's neurodevelopment from conception, throughout pregnancy and for the first two years of life. The objective of this study is to determine total estimated usual nutrient intakes and to identify nutrient gaps by comparing the intakes to corresponding Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) or Adequate Intake (AI), as well as the Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) in women of childbearing age (15–44 years). Methods: Usual intake of nutrients from food and food + supplements were estimated using the National Cancer Institute method from 2 valid 24-hr dietary recalls among 4134 women aged 15–44 years (further grouped into 15–30 and 31–44 years) in NHANES 2011–16, a cross-sectional nationally representative health examination survey. Results: The mean age of the sample population was 29.2 ± 0.3 years, with a majority non-Hispanic white (54.9%) and high income (55%, PIR > 1.85). The percentage of women that had usual intake from food less than the EAR was as follows (percentage for 15–30 year old followed by percentage for 31–44 year old): vitamin D (>97%, > 97%), vitamin E (92% ± 1.0%, 88% ± 1.4%), magnesium (62% ± 1.9%, 44% ± 1.8%), vitamin A (50% ± 2.3%, 44% ± 2.2%), calcium (49% ± 1.6%, 44% ± 1.9%), vitamin C (47% ± 2.2%, 46% ± 2.2%). The percentage of women that had total usual intake below the AI was approximately (percentage for 15–30 year old followed by percentage for 31–44 year old): choline (96%, 94%), dietary fiber (96%, 92%), potassium (66%, 68%), vitamin K (43%, 43%). Conclusions: A significant percentage of the women of childbearing age are not meeting the dietary recommendations for vitamin A, D, E, K, C, magnesium, calcium, choline, potassium and dietary fiber. The influence of which can be substantial; when infants are not given the best start in life, our society is directly impacted. Funding Sources: This study was funded by Pharmavite LLC.