Nausea and Vomiting during Early Pregnancy among Chinese Women and Its Association with Nutritional Intakes

Abstract

Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy (NVP) is one of the most common uncomfortable symptoms of women in early pregnancy. A total of 303 Chinese pregnant women from 10 urban cities in their first trimester were recruited in this study to collect their sociodemographic characteristics and their NVP occurrence. Their dietary nutrient and food intakes were also collected by a 24 h dietary recall and a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (SFFQ). Using the univariate analysis and multiple linear regression analysis to estimate the correlation between NVP and dietary intake, we found that 255 (84.1%) pregnant women experienced NVP during their first trimester. The intake of energy, protein, fat, vitamin A, thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin E, phosphorus, potassium, iron and zinc was lower in women with NVP than in those with no NVP. Additionally, women with NVP were more likely to have insufficient intake of protein, riboflavin, calcium, phosphorus and selenium. In terms of specific food groups, the average daily intake of mushrooms, algae, nuts and seeds, meat, eggs and dairy products in the NVP group was lower. Women in the severe NVP group even had insufficient gestational weight gain. We should pay more attention to women who experience nausea and vomiting during pregnancy and provide them with targeted nutritional support.

Effect of Dietary Protein Intake from Different Sources on Maternal and Umbilical Cord Plasma Amino Acid Levels

“…Additionally, nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy may also affect appetite and result in a decreased intake of total protein. [17] In general, amino acid levels in maternal and cord blood in our study were similar to those measured in previous studies. [18][19][20] In agreement with the findings of other studies, Gln is the predominant amino acid in maternal and cord blood.…”

“…Additionally, nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy may also affect appetite and result in a decreased intake of total protein. [ 17 ]…”

Maternal factors in the origin of cleft lip/cleft palate: A population‐based case–control study

“…However, similar to our findings, an association between severe nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy and the elevated risk of birth defects (neural tube defects) has been described in Northern China 29 . This finding may be explained by insufficient intake of some nutrients as a consequence of excessive vomiting 30 …”

“…29 This finding may be explained by insufficient intake of some nutrients as a consequence of excessive vomiting. 30 We identified some acute maternal diseases that can significantly increase the risk of CL ± CP development (influenza, infections of the respiratory or urinary tract and pelvic inflammatory disease). In most cases, these infections are associated with high temperatures.…”

Knowledge and practices of pregnant women regarding iron deficiency anemia in the Eastern Region of Ghana

“…This could be concerning, and midwives should focus more on educating patients about risk factors for iron de ciency anemia. This is because vomiting has been linked to practically every pregnancy [9] and educating pregnant women about the link between vomiting and iron de ciency may motivate them to consume more iron-rich foods. Also, closely spaced pregnancies have been widely documented among Ghanaian women [10], which is why midwives spend so much time educating them on the bene ts of spacing pregnancies for both the children and the mothers' health.…”