Impact of Dietary Pattern on Nutritional Status of Pregnant Women in Low and High Strata between the Age Group of 30-39 Years in Mumbai

Background: Maternal Nutrition plays an important role in shaping the mother’s and fetal health. Therefore intake of high salt, high fat, high sugar in the diet might lead to over nutrition among pregnant women due to varied food choices of the since most of the subjects consumed outside food, Sugar Sweetened Beverages such as (Cola, Pepsi, Thumps Up, Soda, Sherbet etc), Processed Food such as (Ready to eat food, Mayonnaise, Cheese spread etc) which consist of increase amount of preservative which might affect the mother and foetal’s health. Since there was increase intake of above food groups and decrease intake of macro and micronutrients in the diet through food group such as Fruits, Nuts and Oilseed, Green Leafy Vegetables etc. Therefore there might be increased risk of Over nutrition among women which might lead to GDM (Gestational Diabetes Mellitus), IUGR (Intra Uterine Growth Retardation), Low Birth weight etc.

Aim: To study the impact of dietary pattern on Nutritional of pregnant women in Low and High Strata.

Method: A purposive random sampling was done among pregnant women because only 2nd trimester pregnant women were selected for the study. The 50 subjects were divided into LSES (Lower Socioeconomic Strata) &HSES (Higher Socioeconomic Strata) on the basis of Kuppuswamy Index. The dietary pattern of the subjects was assessed through FFQ (Food Frequency Questionnaire) & 3 Day Diet Recall.

Result: There was increase consumption of High Fat, High Salt, High Sugar in the diet through consumption if food group such as Outside Food, Processed Food, Sugar Sweetened Beverages etc and in comparison the consumption of Macro and Micronutrient rich food group was lower which included Fruits, Green Leafy Vegetables, Nuts and oilseed etc. In Lower Strata the consumption of above food group was low because they were financially not stable therefore they were given additional services where the company paid their ration balance so that they could consume selective food group which were costing comparatively more. Since the RDA(Recommended Dietary Allowances) requirements were not met therefore the women were prescribed Iron, Calcium and Folic Acid supplements in the diet to decrease the risk of Maternal and fetal complication such as GDM(Gestational Diabetes Mellitus), NTD(Neural Tube Defect), IUGR(Intra Uterine Growth Retardation) etc.

Conclusion: Therefore to decrease the risk of Maternal and Fetal Complications intake of Macro and Micro nutritions in the diet is imperative and it is important to organize Nutrition Intervention programmes and counsel the pregnant women about Maternal Nutrition and how decrease intake of Nutrients in the diet might lead to Maternal Under nutrition and over nutrition and its related risk.