title: A comparison of the dietary and total intake of micronutrients in a group of pregnant Greek women with the Dietary Reference Intakes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We compared the dietary and total (diet and supplement) intake of micronutrients with the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) from the USA in a population of pregnant Greek women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred pregnant women participated in a nutritional survey, 98 in the second trimester and 102 in the third trimester in a random sampling. To examine dietary intake we used two questionnaires, the nutritional questionnaire for pregnant women from the California Department of Health Services, and a semi-quantitative questionnaire (Walter Willet) with modifications for use in Greece. Dietary intake analysis was performed using the Diet Analysis Plus software, Version 3, ESHA Research. Statistical analysis was performed with Minitab for Windows, Release 12. A simple complementary questionnaire concerning demographic and socio-economic features was also completed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average total intake of vitamins A, B(1), B(2), B(3), B(6), B(12) and C, calcium and phosphorus was higher than the respective DRIs. Folic acid and iron intake exceed the highest values specified for pregnancy. Vitamin E and zinc was lower than the DRIs, while vitamin D, magnesium and thiamin did not differ.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of our study suggest that in a Greek population, sufficient micronutrients appear to be received in adequate amount from diet, except for folic acid and iron, which also had to be taken in the form of nutritional supplements.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Tzaneio General Hospital of Piraeus, Syrou 33, Chaidari 12462, Greece.
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Petrakos
authors.forename: Perikles
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Panagopoulos
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Koutras
authors.forename: Avraam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kazis
authors.forename: Dimosthenis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Panagiotakos
authors.forename: Apostolos
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Economou
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kanellopoulos
authors.forename: Emmanouil
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Salamalekis
authors.forename: Antonios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zabelas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004032:Diet / Q000592:standards*; D004034:Diet Surveys; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D018977:Micronutrients