Nutritional status as assessed by nutrient intakes and biomarkers among women of childbearing age – is the burden of nutrient inadequacies growing in America?

Abstract

Objective: Understanding nutrient intakes among women of childbearing age within the USA is important given the accumulating evidence that maternal body weight gain and nutrient intakes prior to pregnancy may influence the health and well-being of the offspring. The objective of the present study was to evaluate nutritional status in women of childbearing age and to ascertain the influence of ethnicity and income on nutrient intakes. Design: Nutritional status was assessed using data on nutrient intakes through foods and supplements from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Biomarker data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were used to assess nutritional status for selected nutrients. Poverty-income ratio was used to assess family income. Subjects: White (n 1560), African-American (n 889) and Mexican-American (n 761) women aged 19-30 and 31-50 years were included. Setting: A nationally representative sample of non-pregnant women of childbearing age resident in the USA. Results: African-American women had the lowest intakes of fibre, folate, riboflavin, P, K, Ca and Mg. Women (31-50 years) with a poverty-income ratio of ≤1·85 had significantly lower intakes of almost all nutrients analysed. Irrespective of ethnicity and income, a significant percentage of women were not consuming the estimated recommended amounts (Estimated Average Requirement) of several key nutrients: vitamin A (~80 %), vitamin D (~78 %) and fibre (~92 %). Nutrient biomarker data were generally reflective of nutrient intake patterns among the different ethnic groups. Conclusions: Women of childbearing age in the USA are not meeting nutrient intake guidelines, with differences between ethnic groups and socio-economic strata. These factors should be considered when establishing nutrition science advocacy and policy.

Serum Retinol Concentrations, Race, and Socioeconomic Status in of Women of Childbearing Age in the United States

“…Recent studies have raised concerns regarding nutrient intake in the United States, especially with regard to vitamin A and vitamin A precursors from fruits and vegetables. Data from 2003 to 2008 NHANES cycles demonstrate that women of childbearing age in the United States are not meeting nutrient guidelines for vitamin A intake, with distinct differences present between ethnic groups and socioeconomic strata [20,31,32]. Lower income individuals consumed lower quality foods when compared to those with higher incomes, including fruits and vegetables, as measured by the Alternate Healthy Eating Index [33].…”

“…We categorized PIR into ≤1.85 and >1.85 based on previous studies [20], or income that is 185% of the poverty threshold applied by the Food and Nutrition Service. The PIR is the ratio of household income to the poverty threshold after accounting for inflation and family size [21,22].…”

“…The PIR is the ratio of household income to the poverty threshold after accounting for inflation and family size [21,22]. The PIR is used to determine eligibility for means-tested government-sponsored assistance programs relevant for women, particularly the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) [20]. Race/ethnicity was categorized as Hispanic, non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic Black, and Other (including multi-racial).…”

Vitamin A and Related Compounds in the Prenatal and Postnatal States: A MaternalNeonate Focused Review

“…However, recently concerns have been raised about the diet quality of susceptible populations. A study using data from the 2003-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), which is considered a representative sample of the United States population, demonstrated that women of childbearing age in the United States are not consuming adequate amounts of vitamin A [44]. This is especially true for women in minority ethnic groups, as well as women of lower socioeconomic status [44].…”

“…A study using data from the 2003-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), which is considered a representative sample of the United States population, demonstrated that women of childbearing age in the United States are not consuming adequate amounts of vitamin A [44]. This is especially true for women in minority ethnic groups, as well as women of lower socioeconomic status [44]. In general, lower income individuals have less access to high quality, vitamin A-rich foods such as fruits and vegetables, as measured by the Alternate Healthy Eating Index, which is a summary score of 11 components that measures diet quality.…”