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Cited by 81Nutritional Studies and DietNutrition and Health StudiesNutrition, Health and Food Behavior

Folate, vitamin D, and iron intakes are low among pregnant Finnish women

Erkkola, M, Karppinen, M, Järvinen, A, Knip, M, Virtanen, SM·1998·European Journal of Clinical Nutrition
DOI 10.1038/sj.ejcn.1600638
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Abstract

Objective To evaluate dietary habits and nutrient intake of Finnish pregnant women, to relate these to the use of dietary supplements, and to explore possible dietary variations according to age and education.Design A random dietary survey using two five day estimated food records.Setting Pregnant women from 13 maternity clinics in the city of Oulu, Finland.Subjects One hundred and eighteen pregnant women in their third trimester.Main results The main sources of energy were cereal products and milk products. The consumption of fish and poultry was low. Women with a higher educational level consumed more vegetables, fruit, fruit juices, and tea and less sausages, inner organs and coffee than women with a lower educational level. Younger women (< 25 y) consumed more sugar and pork and less berries, butter and inner organs than older women. On average 15% of the total energy was supplied by protein, 33% by fats, 52% by carbohydrates, and 12% by sucrose. Compared to the Nordic nutrition recommendations, the proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids and the intake of dietary fibre were low and the intake of sugar high. The intakes of vitamins and minerals met or exceeded the recommended allowances, except for vitamin D, folate, and iron. Of the subjects 70% used dietary supplements. With the exception of vitamin D, folate, and iron, both the supplement users and non-users had an adequate nutrient intake from their diet.Conclusions A balanced diet covers the increased nutrient requirements during pregnancy, with the exception for vitamin D, folate, and iron. The use of dietary supplements during pregnancy is excessive and partly focused on the wrong nutrients. Young and less educated, and smoking pregnant women need more nutritional guidance.

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  • Supplementation of vitamins and minerals, such as iron and folic acid, may be effective in reducing the impact of malaria and nutritional deficiencies on maternal and neonatal health.

    “Regarding nutritional interventions for malaria in pregnancy, there is evidence that supplementation of vitamins and minerals (e.g. iron/folic acid) may be effective in reducing the impact of malaria and nutritional deficiencies on maternal and neonatal health.”

    From Current update on malaria in pregnancy: a systematic review (2025) · cites this paper as [214]

  • A balanced diet can generally meet increased nutrient requirements during pregnancy, but supplementation may be required for certain nutrients such as vitamin D, folic acid and iron.

    “Similarly, a balanced diet can generally meet increased nutrient requirements during pregnancy, but supplementation may be required for certain nutrients such as vitamin D, folic acid and iron [214].”

    From Current update on malaria in pregnancy: a systematic review (2025) · cites this paper as [214]

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Authors
Erkkola, M., Karppinen, M., Järvinen, A., Knip, M., & Virtanen, S.
Affiliations
  • Tampere University (FI)
  • Oulu Deaconess Institute (FI)
  • University of Helsinki (FI)
  • University of Tampere (FI)
ORCID
Venue
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
1998-09-30
Volume
52
Issue
10
Pages
742-748
ISSN
  • 0954-3007 (ISSN-L)
  • 1476-5640
DOI
10.1038/sj.ejcn.1600638
OpenAlex
W2086715775
Cited by
81
References
22
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 4
FWCI
2.68
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
Locations
  • European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Nutritional Studies and Diet
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Nutrition and Health Studies
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Nutrition, Health and Food Behavior
Keywords
pregnancy, dietary intake, folic acid, vitamin D, iron, dietary supplements, nutritional adequacy, educational attainment, age differences, energy intake, macronutrient composition, polyunsaturated fatty acids, dietary fiber, sugar consumption
MeSH terms
Adult, Aging, Animals, Energy Intake, Diet Surveys, Dietary Carbohydrates, Dietary Fats, Dietary Fiber, Dietary Proteins, Educational Status, Female, Finland, Folic Acid, Humans, Nutritional Physiological Phenomena, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Trimester, Third, Vitamin D, Iron, Dietary, Dietary Supplements

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