Variability in nutrient intake during pregnancy in a cohort of Argentine women

Food selections and nutrient intake during pregnancy affect both women and the future generation's health. The purpose of the study was to estimate nutrients intake adequacy and their variations during the course of pregnancy in a cohort of 726 women older than 19 years from 7 geographical regions of Argentina. Nutrient intake was evaluated by the 24-h recall method at two moments of pregnancy, before week 16 and between weeks 28 and 36. In a subsample a second 24-h dietary recall was made in a non consecutive day to the first record in order to determine the inter-individual variability. Dietary fiber, iron and calcium intakes showed the highest probability of inadequacy, being lower than the recommendation in more than 95% of pregnant women. There was a noticeable increase in both macro and micronutrients intakes towards the end of pregnancy, regardless energy intake that remained with few variations and was in the order of 1970 kcal per day both at the beginning and at the end of pregnancy. Estimated intakes of fiber, vitamin A and vitamin C presented the highest values of variability, higher than 0.74 at the beginning and at the end of pregnancy. These observed intra-individual variability values in nutrient intakes can be used to estimate more accurately energy and nutrients intakes in similar populations when only a single 24-h dietary recall is available for each pregnant woman.