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Changes in Dietary Intake in Pregnant Women from Periconception to Pregnancy in the Japan Environment and Children’s Study: A Nationwide Japanese Birth Cohort Study

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Abstract

Background

Nutritional requirements increase during pregnancy. However, relatively few studies have examined longitudinal changes in dietary intake from periconception to pregnancy. Here, we investigated changes in the intake of food and nutrients, and compliance with dietary reference intakes (DRIs) in pregnant women.

Methods

The Japan Environment and Children’s Study, a nationwide multicenter prospective cohort study, included 30,373 pregnant women who answered a validated food frequency questionnaire repeatedly to assess changes in dietary intake in periconception and pregnancy. Energy-adjusted intakes of food groups and nutrients were described using the density method. The percentage of women not meeting DRIs was calculated.

Results

Of all foods groups examined, intake of food significantly increased from periconception to pregnancy for dairy products (mean difference 23.5 g/1000 kcal, 95% confidence interval [CI] 22.0–25.0 g/1000 kcal), confectionaries (2.0 g/1000 kcal, 1.8–2.2 g/1000 kcal), and soft drinks (1.3 g/1000 kcal, 0.3–2.3 g/1000 kcal). Of all nutrients examined, intake was significantly increased for calcium (mean difference 27 mg/1000 kcal, 95% CI 25–29 mg/1000 kcal), vitamin A (15 μgRE/1000 kcal, 13–18 g/1000 kcal), and saturated fat (0.4% energy, 0.4–0.4% energy). The percentage of women not meeting DRIs increased for vitamin B group, vitamin C, saturated fat and salt.

Conclusion

We found that energy-adjusted intakes of calcium, vitamin A, and saturated fat increased from periconception to pregnancy, while intake of other nutrients did not increase. The percentage of women not meeting DRIs increased for water-soluble vitamins, saturated fat, and salt.

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Acknowledgements

This work was funded by the Ministry of the Environment, Japan. Members of the Japan Environment and Children’s Study (JECS) as of 2017 (principal investigator, Toshihiro Kawamoto) were: Reiko Kishi (Hokkaido Regional Center for JECS, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan); Nobuo Yaegashi (Miyagi Regional Center for JECS, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan); Koichi Hashimoto (Fukushima Regional Center for JECS, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan); Chisato Mori (Chiba Regional Center for JECS, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan); Shuichi Ito (Kanagawa Regional Center for JECS, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Japan); Zentaro Yamagata (Koshin Regional Center for JECS, University of Yamanashi, Chuo, Japan); Hidekuni Inadera (Toyama Regional Center for JECS, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan); Michihiro Kamijima (Aichi Regional Center for JECS, Nagoya City University, Nagoya, Japan); Toshio Heike (Kyoto Regional Center for JECS, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan); Hiroyasu Iso (Osaka Regional Center for JECS, Osaka University, Suita, Japan); Masayuki Shima (Hyogo Regional Center for JECS, Hyogo College of Medicine, Nishinomiya, Japan); Yasuaki Kawai (Tottori Regional Center for JECS, Tottori University, Yonago, Japan); Narufumi Suganuma (Kochi Regional Center for JECS, Kochi University, Nankoku, Japan); Koichi Kusuhara (Fukuoka Regional Center for JECS, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan); and Takahiko Katoh (South Kyushu/Okinawa Regional Center for JECS, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medical Research Center for Japan Environment and Children’s Study, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, 2-10-1 Okura, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, 157-8535, Japan

    Kazue Ishitsuka, Kiwako Yamamoto-Hanada, Hidetoshi Mezawa, Mizuho Konishi & Yukihiro Ohya

  2. Department of Social and Preventive Epidemiology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8654, Japan

    Kazue Ishitsuka & Satoshi Sasaki

  3. Department of Social and Preventive Epidemiology, School of Public Health, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8654, Japan

    Satoshi Sasaki

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  1. Kazue Ishitsuka
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  4. Hidetoshi Mezawa
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Consortia

for the Japan Environment and Children’s Study Group

  • Reiko Kishi
  • , Nobuo Yaegashi
  • , Koichi Hashimoto
  • , Chisato Mori
  • , Shuichi Ito
  • , Zentaro Yamagata
  • , Hidekuni Inadera
  • , Michihiro Kamijima
  • , Toshio Heike
  • , Hiroyasu Iso
  • , Masayuki Shima
  • , Yasuaki Kawai
  • , Narufumi Suganuma
  • , Koichi Kusuhara
  •  & Takahiko Katoh

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Correspondence to Yukihiro Ohya.

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The members of the Japan Environment and Children’s Study Group are listed in the acknowledgments.

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Ishitsuka, K., Sasaki, S., Yamamoto-Hanada, K. et al. Changes in Dietary Intake in Pregnant Women from Periconception to Pregnancy in the Japan Environment and Children’s Study: A Nationwide Japanese Birth Cohort Study. Matern Child Health J 24, 389–400 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-019-02835-z

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