title: Assessment of Pre-Pregnancy Dietary Intake with a Food Frequency Questionnaire in Alberta Women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pre-pregnancy is an under-examined and potentially important time to optimize dietary intake to support fetal growth and development as well as maternal health. The purpose of the study was to determine the extent to which dietary intake reported by non-pregnant women is similar to pre-pregnancy dietary intake reported by pregnant women using the same assessment tool.
  
  
  METHODS
  The self-administered, semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was adapted from the Canadian version of the Diet History Questionnaire, originally developed by the National Cancer Institute in the United States. Pregnant women (n = 98) completed the FFQ which assessed dietary intake for the year prior to pregnancy. Non-pregnant women (n = 103) completed the same FFQ which assessed dietary intake for the previous year. Energy, macronutrients, and key micronutrients: long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, folate, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, calcium, vitamin D and iron were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dietary intake between groups; reported with the FFQ; was similar except for saturated fat; trans fat; calcium; and alcohol. Pregnant women reported significantly higher intakes of saturated fat; trans fat; and calcium and lower intake of alcohol in the year prior to pregnancy compared to non-pregnant women who reported intake in the previous year.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite limitations; a FFQ may be used to assist with retrospective assessment of pre-pregnancy dietary intake.
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, 4-002 Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Research Innovation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E1, Canada. stephanie.ramage@ualberta.ca.
authors.forename: Stephanie M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Ramage
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, 4-002 Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Research Innovation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E1, Canada. linda.mccargar@ualberta.ca.
authors.forename: Linda J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: McCargar
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, 4-002 Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Research Innovation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E1, Canada. caseyberglund@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Casey
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Berglund
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation , 3-100 University Hall, Van Vliet Complex, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H9, Canada. vicki.harber@ualberta.ca.
authors.forename: Vicki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Harber
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, 4-002 Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Research Innovation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E1, Canada. rhonda.bell@ualberta.ca.
authors.forename: Rhonda C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, 4-002 Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Research Innovation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E1, Canada.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000416:Alberta; D004032:Diet; D015930:Diet Records; D004034:Diet Surveys / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: diet assessment; dietary intake; food frequency questionnaire; pre-pregnancy