title: Assessment of protein intake during pregnancy using a food frequency questionnaire and the effect on postpartum body weight variation.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of protein intake during pregnancy on postpartum weight variation. This was a prospective cohort study with 421 women interviewed at 15 days (baseline) and 2, 6, and 9 months postpartum. Data on diet were obtained using the food frequency questionnaire, focusing on the second and third trimesters. Protein intake was considered adequate when women consumed ≥ 1.2g of protein per kg body weight, and inadequate when < 1.2g/kg. The study adopted the mixed effects model for repeated measurements over time. The results showed a mean postpartum weight loss of 0.409kg/month (±0.12) (p < 0.01). Women with adequate protein intake during pregnancy lost an additional 0.094kg/month (±0.04) during postpartum (p = 0.03) when compared to women with inadequate intake. The model was adjusted for energy, % body fat, stature, age, schooling, skin color, and smoking. Recommended protein intake during pregnancy favored postpartum weight reduction.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Nutrição Josué de Castro, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. mbtcastro@gmail.com
authors.forename: Maria Beatriz Trindade de
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.forename: Gilberto
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kac
authors.forename: Rosely
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sichieri
mesh_terms: D015331:Cohort Studies; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D004044:Dietary Proteins