THE CONSUMPTION OF FOOD, ENERGY AND NUTRIENTS IN PREGNANT-WOMEN - DIFFERENCES WITH RESPECT TO SMOKING-HABITS

The aim of the present investigation was to study the consumption of f ood, energy and nutrients in pregnant women, with respect to differenc es in their smoking habits. Food, energy and nutrient intakes during t he third trimester of pregnancy were determined in 82 pregnant women b y recording their consumption of foods over a five day period, and by calculation of the quantity of nutrients provided by dietary supplemen ts. Subjects were asked about their smoking habits and divided into tw o groups, non-smokers (NS) (69.5%) and smokers of >10 cigarettes per d ay (S) (8.5%). S subjects showed lower intakes of milk products, veget ables, monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), niacin, folates, vitamin D and calcium than did NS subjects. No differences were found between gr oups with respect to discrepancy in reporting (the difference between energy intake and theoretical energy expenditure). The consumption of supplements was small and the addition of these figures produced no si gnificant change in the results obtained. The newborns of NS subjects showed greater body weights and body length than those of S subjects. The results obtained show that pregnant smokers have lower intakes of some foods and nutrients. Independently of the negative effects of tob acco on the health of both mother and newborn, it is possible that som e problems are due to dietary differences associated with smoking. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.