[Nutrient intake in women with pagophagia and other forms of pica during the pregnancy].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this investigation was to know and assess the characteristics of nutrient intake in pregnant women diagnosed with pica (consumption of non nutritive substances).


METHODS
We studied a group of 71 women presenting pagophagia (compulsive consumption of ice) and other forms of pica, which was compared to a control group including the same number of women with similar socio-cultural and anthropometrical characteristics but without the eating disorder. Both groups were randomly selected among women assisted at the Hospital de la Matanza, province of Buenos Aires, Argentina.


RESULTS
we did not observed statistically significant differences in energy, total proteins, iron, and calcium consumption. However, women with pica showed lower intakes (p < 0.03) of carbohydrates, animal proteins, hemic iron, and zinc. The median values for women with and without the disorder were, respectively: carbohydrates (g): 379/426; animal proteins (g): 35/39; hemic iron (mg): 1.5/1.9; zinc (mg): 7.1/8.1, calcium (mg): 625/612. In both groups, meat was the main source of iron and zinc, and its intake was lower in the group with pica. The daily average amounts consumed were 117 + 53 g for women with pica and 154 + 71 g (p < 0.03) for the control group. Only 22% of pregnant women with the disorder referred using iron supplements during their pregnancy.


CONCLUSIONS
As compared with control women, pregnant women with pica disorder showed lower intake in traditionally marginal nutrients such as iron and zinc. These results show the need for early diagnosing this disorder during pregnancy in order to prevent or correct it and properly counseling pregnant women about food selection and supplementation regimens.
Escuela de Nutrición, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina. lblopez@fmed.uba.ar
L B
LB
López
M L Pita Martín
ML
de Portela
C R Ortega
CR
Soler
D000328:Adult; D004435:Eating; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007053:Ice; D010842:Pica; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D039401:Prenatal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
D007053:Ice