NUTRITIONAL SURVEY OF PREGNANT-WOMEN IN HUNGARY

A nutritional survey of a Hungarian group of pregnant women was carrie d out. One hundred and twenty nine women aged 25.9 years, entered the study, but only 70 completed all the protocol. Average body weight gai n was 12.4 kg and the mean birth weight of the newborns was 3,386 g. M ean energy and nutrient intakes of pregnant women showed similar patte rns as in Hungarian non-pregnant women of the same age. The mean energ y intake was high (11 MJ), being 10% higher than for non-pregnant wome n. The mean protein and lipid intakes were also high, 91.9 g and 108.4 g, respectively, exceeding by 7% and 6% the intakes of the non-pregna nt women. Dietary intakes of saturated fatty acids (SFAs) and monounsa turated fatty acids (MUFAs) were close to 12% of energy, and the intak e of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) was 7.6% of total energy. Pal mitic acid (16:0), oleic acid (18:1 n-9) and linoleic acid (18:2 n-6) made the greatest contribution to the total peak area of SFAs, MUFAs a nd PUFAs, respectively. The ratio of P/S (polyunsaturated/saturated fa tty acids) was appropriate: 0.65; however; the ratio of linoleic acid (18:2 n-6), to linolenic acid (18:3 n-3) was high: 16. The cholesterol intake was somewhat lower in pregnant than in non-pregnant women. Com plex carbohydrate intake was low (245 g) but it was still by 75% highe r than in non-pregnant women. The excess sodium intake (6.3 g) was ver y similar to that of non-pregnant women. Mean values for retinol, toco pherol, ascorbic acid, cobalamin and copper intakes were higher than t he Hungarian Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA). Thiamine, riboflavi n, pyridoxine, niacin, calcium, iron and zinc intakes were insufficien t. Data showed an imbalance in the energy and nutrient intakes of Hung arian pregnant women, and this could be harmful for both the mother an d pregnancy outcome.