title: The association between the macronutrient content of maternal diet and the adequacy of micronutrients during pregnancy in the Women and Their Children’s Health (WATCH) study.
abstract: Nutrition during pregnancy can induce alterations in offspring phenotype. Maternal ratio of protein to non-protein (P:NP) energy has been linked to variations in offspring body composition and adult risk of metabolic disease. This study describes the dietary patterns of pregnant women by tertiles of the P:NP ratio and compares diet to Australian recommendations. Data are from 179 Australian women enrolled in the Women and Their Children's Health Study. Diet was assessed using a validated 74-item food frequency questionnaire. Food group servings and nutrient intakes were compared to the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating and Australian Nutrient Reference Values. Higher maternal P:NP tertile was positively associated with calcium (P = 0.003), zinc (P = 0.001) and servings of dairy (P = 0.001) and meat (P = 0.001) food groups, and inversely associated with the energy dense, nutrient poor non-core (P = 0.003) food group. Micronutrient intakes were optimized with intermediate protein (18%E-20%E), intermediate fat  (28%E-30%E) and intermediate carbohydrate (50%E-54%E) intakes, as indicated in tertile two. Results suggest a moderate protein intake may support pregnant women to consume the largest variety of nutrients across all food groups.
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia. Michelle.Blumfield@newcastle.edu.au
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blumfield
authors.forename: Alexis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hure
authors.forename: Lesley
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: MacDonald-Wicks
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Raubenheimer
authors.forename: Clare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Collins
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D002118:Calcium / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D004032:Diet / Q000592:standards*; D004034:Diet Surveys; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care; D012016:Reference Values; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D018977:Micronutrients; D015032:Zinc; D002118:Calcium