Longitudinal Observational Study on Diet Quality during Pregnancy and Its Relation to Several Risk Factors for Pregnancy Complications and Outcomes

Aims: A mother’s diet during pregnancy is considered one of the most important external factors affecting health of her child further in life. Unfavourable diet, together with advanced maternal age, high pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), and excessive pregnancy weight gain are considered to be significant risk factors for adverse pregnancy complications and outcomes. The aim of this study was to determine correlations between pre-pregnancy BMI, quality of nutrition during pregnancy, and pregnancy outcomes in pregnant women with an excessive weight gain during pregnancy.

Study Design: Randomized, observational, prospective, long-term study.

Methodology: The study included pregnant women from the area of the city Osijek, eastern Croatia. The subjects were monitored throughout pregnancy to labour and 6 weeks postpartum. Analysis included anthropometry, blood glucose, incidence of gestosis (i.e. hypertension, gestational diabetes, edemas and proteinuria) and delivery outcomes (e.g. mode of delivery, birth weight) and a 24-hour dietary record was used to asses nutrition quality. Based on the risk factors for adverse pregnancy complications and outcomes, two groups of women were selected for the sub-group analysis. The first group of women with a normal pre-pregnancy BMI and an excessive pregnancy weight gain (n=47), and the second group of women with an overweight/obese BMI (BMI≥25 kg/m2) and an excessive pregnancy weight gain (n=43).

Results: For women with a normal pre-pregnancy BMI, the balance of specific carbohydrates had the greatest importance on pregnancy complications and outcomes. On the other hand, for women starting pregnancy at-risk; with an overweight/obese BMI, the total dietary intake of fats and the balance in specific fatty acids had the greatest impact on pregnancy complications and outcomes.

Conclusion: The present study provides important data on how specific dietary components influence pregnancy complications and outcomes. This information may be useful in creating specific timed interventions for women of reproductive age, ensuring a healthy pregnancy, and a healthy child.