Characteristics associated with organic food consumption during pregnancy; data from a large cohort of pregnant women in Norway

Abstract

BackgroundLittle is known about the use of organic food during pregnancy. The aim of this study was to describe characteristics associated with the use of organic food among pregnant women participating in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa).MethodsThe present study includes 63,561 women who during the years 2002-2007 answered two questionnaires, a general health questionnaire at gestational week 15 and a food frequency questionnaire at weeks 17-22. We used linear binomial regression with frequent versus rare use of organic food as outcome variable and characteristics of the respondent as independent variables. The outcome variable was derived from self-reported frequency of organic food use in six main food groups (milk/dairy, bread/cereal, eggs, vegetables, fruit and meat).ResultsOrganic eggs and vegetables were the food items which were most frequently reported to be used "often" or "mostly". The proportion of women reporting frequent intake of organic food was 9.1% (n = 5754). This group included more women in the lower (<25 years) and higher (>40 years) age-groups, with normal or low body mass index, who were vegetarians, exercised regularly (3+times weekly), consumed alcohol and smoked cigarettes during pregnancy (p < 0.001 for all, except alcohol: p=0.044). Further, participants with frequent organic consumption included more women in the lower (≤12 years) or higher (17 years +) category of educational attainment, women who were students or had a partner being a student, who belonged to the lowest household income group (both respondent and her partner earned <300 000 NOK), who entered the study 2005-2007, and who lived in an urban area (p < 0.001 for all).ConclusionsThe socio-economic characteristics of pregnant Norwegian women with frequent organic consumption did not unambiguously follow those typically associated with better health, such as higher levels of education and income. Rather, lower household income, and both lowest and highest levels of education were associated with a higher prevalence of frequent organic consumption. The results indicate that personal and socio-economic characteristics are important covariates and need to be included in future studies of potential health outcomes related to organic food consumption during pregnancy.

Dietary intakes and diet quality according to levels of organic food consumption by French adults: cross-sectional findings from the NutriNet-Santé Cohort Study

“…Consistent with previous studies (25,45,(47)(48)(49) , we found herein that income seemed to be a weak determinant compared with education to explain differences in organic food consumption behaviours. However, whether high consumption of organic foods was not necessarily related to high household income, low consumers exhibited elevated percentages of individuals with a low income in accordance with another work (49) .…”

Organic Food in the Diet: Exposure and Health Implications

“…However, this pattern does not necessarily apply when organic food consumption is related to an alternative lifestyle that www.annualreviews.org • Exposure and Health Implicationsincludes vegetarianism, environmentalism, or other ideologies (10,48,89,107). Studies show that frequent organic consumption does not follow a typical age gradient but is found in both young adult (<25 years) and older adult (>40 years) age groups (81,107) and that organic consumers more often belong to households with children than do nonorganic consumers (48).…”

“…A study in a large population of pregnant women in Norway showed that frequent organic consumers more often participated in regular exercise and had lower BMI, characteristics associated with a healthy lifestyle. However, frequent organic consumption was also associated with higher prevalence of smoking and use of alcohol, characteristics that are not typical of a health-conscious lifestyle (107).…”

“…Research describing lifestyle and socioeconomic characteristics of organic food consumers has shown that organic consumption is a complex phenomenon involving diverse groups that do not fit into typically defined consumer segments. Most studies report that organic consumption is closely linked to other health and lifestyle indicators, e.g., consumers often have higher education and income, have lower body-mass index (BMI), are more physically active, and have healthier diets than those who do not or seldom use organic food (32,34,58,107,108). However, this pattern does not necessarily apply when organic food consumption is related to an alternative lifestyle that www.annualreviews.org • Exposure and Health Implicationsincludes vegetarianism, environmentalism, or other ideologies (10,48,89,107).…”

“…Most studies report that organic consumption is closely linked to other health and lifestyle indicators, e.g., consumers often have higher education and income, have lower body-mass index (BMI), are more physically active, and have healthier diets than those who do not or seldom use organic food (32,34,58,107,108). However, this pattern does not necessarily apply when organic food consumption is related to an alternative lifestyle that www.annualreviews.org • Exposure and Health Implicationsincludes vegetarianism, environmentalism, or other ideologies (10,48,89,107). Studies show that frequent organic consumption does not follow a typical age gradient but is found in both young adult (<25 years) and older adult (>40 years) age groups (81,107) and that organic consumers more often belong to households with children than do nonorganic consumers (48).…”