title: The Assessment of Diet Quality and Its Effects on Health Outcomes Pre-pregnancy and during Pregnancy.
abstract: Overweight and obesity pre pregnancy or during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk for maternal obstetric and fetal complications. Diet is one modifiable risk factor that women may be motivated to improve. General healthy eating guidelines, micronutrient sufficiency and macronutrient quantity and quality are important nutrition considerations pre and during pregnancy. With regards to specific nutrients, health authorities have recommendations for folate and/or iodine supplementation; but not consistently for iron and omega-3 despite evidence for their association with health outcomes. There are modest additional requirements for energy and protein, but not fat or carbohydrate, in mid-late pregnancy. Diet indices and dietary pattern analysis are additional tools or methodologies used to assess diet quality. These tools have been used to determine dietary intakes and patterns and their association with pregnancy complications and birth outcomes pre or during pregnancy. Women who may unnecessarily resist foods due to fear of food contamination from listeriosis and methylmercury may limit their diet quality and a balanced approached is required. Dietary intake may also vary according to certain population characteristics. Additional support for women who are younger, less educated, overweight and obese, from socially disadvantaged areas, smokers and those who unnecessarily avoid healthy foods, is required to achieve a higher quality diet and optimal lifestyle peri conception.
authors.affiliation: Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, School of Public Health and Preventative Medicine, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Julie C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.affiliation: School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, Women's & Children's Health Research institute, University of Adelaide, Glen Osmond, SA, Australia.
authors.forename: Shao J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Division of Women's Health, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Angela C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Flynn
authors.affiliation: Global Food Studies, Faculty of the Professions, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Lenka
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Malek
authors.affiliation: The Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, North Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Greco
authors.affiliation: Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, School of Public Health and Preventative Medicine, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moran
mesh_terms: D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008019:Life Style; D000068097:Maternal Health; D009752:Nutritional Status; D009753:Nutritive Value; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D064167:Recommended Dietary Allowances; D012098:Reproduction; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors