title: Dietary and health profiles of Spanish women in preconception, pregnancy and lactation.
abstract: The nutritional status and lifestyle of women in preconception, pregnancy and lactation determine maternal, fetal and child health. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate dietary patterns and lifestyles according the perinatal physiological status in a large sample of Spanish women. Community pharmacists that were previously trained to collect the data recruited 13,845 women. General information, anthropometric measurements, physical activity, unhealthy habits and dietary data were assessed using a validated questionnaire. Mean values and percentages were used as descriptive statistics. The t-test, ANOVA or chi-squared test were used to compare groups. A score that included dietary and behavioral characteristics was generated to compare lifestyles in the three physiological situations. The analysis revealed that diet quality should be improved in the three stages, but in a different manner. While women seeking a pregnancy only met dairy recommendations, those who were pregnant only fulfilled fresh fruits servings and lactating women only covered protein group requirements. In all cases, the consumption allowances of sausages, buns and pastries were exceeded. Food patterns and unhealthy behaviors of Spanish women in preconception, pregnancy and lactation should be improved, particularly in preconception. This information might be useful in order to implement educational programs for each population group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Food Sciences and Physiology, Center for Nutritional Research, University of Navarra, Pamplona 31008, Spain. mcuervo@unav.es.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cuervo
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Navarra, Pamplona 31008, Spain. msayon@alumni.unav.es.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sayon-Orea
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Food Sciences and Physiology, Center for Nutritional Research, University of Navarra, Pamplona 31008, Spain. ssantiago@unav.es.
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Santiago
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Food Sciences and Physiology, Center for Nutritional Research, University of Navarra, Pamplona 31008, Spain. jalfmtz@unav.es.
authors.forename: Jose Alfredo
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Martínez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D007774:Lactation; D008019:Life Style; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D009752:Nutritional Status; D016742:Preconception Care; D011247:Pregnancy; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires