Dietary Intake of Natural Sources of Docosahexaenoic Acid and Folate in Pregnant Women of Three European Cohorts

Background: Folic acid plays a fundamental role in cell division
and differentiation. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) has been associated
with infantile neurological and cognitive development. Thus,
optimal intrauterine development and growth requires adequate
supply of these nutrients during pregnancy. Methods: Healthy
pregnant women, aged 18-41 years, were recruited in Granada (Spain;
n = 62), Munich (Germany; n = 97) and Pecs (Hungary; n = 152). We
estimated dietary DHA and folate intake in weeks 20 (w20) and 30 of
gestation (w30) using a food frequency questionnaire with specific
focus on the dietary sources of folate and DHA. Results: Both w20
and w30 Spanish participants had significantly higher daily DHA
intakes (155 +/- 13 and 161 +/- 9 mg/1,000 kcal) than the German
(119 +/- 9 and 124 +/- 12 mg/1,000 kcal; p = 0.002) and Hungarian
participants (122 +/- 8 and 125 +/- 10 mg/1,000 kcal; p = 0.005).
Hungarian women had higher folate intakes in w20 and w30 (149 +/- 5
and 147 +/- 6 mu g/1,000 kcal) than Spanish (112 +/- 2 and 110 +/-
2 mu g/1,000 kcal; p < 0.001) and German participants (126 +/- 4
and 120 +/- 6 mu g/1,000 kcal; p < 0.001), respectively.
Conclusion: Dietary DHA and folate intake of pregnant women differs
significantly across the three European cohorts. Only 7% of the
participants reached the recommended folate intake during
pregnancy, whereas nearly 90% reached the DHA recommended intake of
200 mg per day. Copyright (C) 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel