The aim of this study was to assess the impact of dietary counselling combined with the provision of food products on food and nutrient intake in pregnant women. We carried out a prospective cohort study of healthy and atopic pregnant women (n 209), who were randomized into dietary intervention and control groups. The intervention group received dietary counselling and food products to modify the fat composition of their diet to meet current recommendations. Three-day food records were collected during each trimester of pregnancy. Women in the intervention group consumed more vegetables, fruits, soft margarines and vegetable oils and less butter than those in the control group during the course of pregnancy (P<0.05). The main distinction between the groups in nutrient intake over the pregnancy was attributable to a higher energy intake (% energy) of PUFA by 0.5%energy (95% CI 0.1, 0.8) and to a lower intake of SFA by 0.8 % energy (95% CI -1.4, -0.4) in the intervention group. Dietary intake of vitamin E was 1.4 mg (95% CI 0.6, 2.2), folate 20.9 microg (95% CI 0.8, 41.0) and ascorbic acid 19.8 mg (95 % CI 3.5, 36.0) higher in the intervention group compared to the controls, while no differences in other nutrients were detected. Dietary counselling combined with the provision of food products during pregnancy is of importance in modifying food and nutrient intake, with potential health benefits.

Results: The mean intake of vitamin D was higher the after initiation of fortification (mean (95% confidence interval (CI)); 4.5 (3.8-5.1) mg) than before it (2.1 (95% CI 1.8-2.3) mg; Po0.001), although there were no differences in consumption of the main food sources of vitamin D between the two cohorts. The difference between the cohorts was also evident when the intake of vitamin D was adjusted for energy intake (0.78 (95% CI 0.70-0.90) and 0.37 (95% CI 0.32-0.42) mg/MJ after and before fortification, respectively, Po0.001). After fortification, the mean intake approached that recommended, but was achieved by only 30.6% of the children. Equally, the serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration was higher after fortification (64.9 (95% CI 59.7-70.1) nmol/l) compared to prior it (54.7 (95% CI 51.0-58.4) nmol/l; P ¼ 0.002).

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