title: Dietary intakes of women during pregnancy in low- and middle-income countries.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To provide a better understanding of dietary intakes of pregnant women in low- and middle-income countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Systematic review was performed to identify relevant studies which reported nutrient intakes or food consumption of pregnant women in developing countries. Macronutrient and micronutrient intakes were compared by region and the FAO/WHO Estimated Average Requirements. Food consumption was summarized by region.
  
  
  METHODS
  Developing countries in Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean and Central/South America.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pregnant women in the second or third trimester of their pregnancies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From a total of 1499 retrieved articles, sixty-two relevant studies were analysed. The ranges of mean/median intakes of energy, fat, protein and carbohydrate were relatively higher in women residing in the Caribbean and Central/South America than in Africa and Asia. Percentages of energy from carbohydrate and fat varied inversely across studies in all regions, whereas percentage of energy from protein was relatively stable. Among selected micronutrients, folate and Fe intakes were most frequently below the Estimated Average Requirements, followed by Ca and Zn. Usual dietary patterns were heavily cereal based across regions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Imbalanced macronutrients, inadequate micronutrient intakes and predominantly plant-based diets were common features of the diet of pregnant women in developing countries. Cohesive public health efforts involving improving access to nutrient-rich local foods, micronutrient supplementation and fortification are needed to improve the nutrition of pregnant women in developing countries.
authors.affiliation: Center for Human Nutrition, Department of International Health, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
authors.forename: Sun Eun
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sameera A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Talegawkar
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Merialdi
authors.forename: Laura E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Caulfield
mesh_terms: D000349:Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D001208:Asia / Q000453:epidemiology; D017691:Caribbean Region / Q000453:epidemiology; D003906:Developing Countries; D004032:Diet; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000453:epidemiology*; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016387:Women's Health
chemical_list: D018977:Micronutrients