Assessment of water, minerals end vitamins intakes during pregnancy in the Micro-IMAGE Study

Abstract

International audienceBackground : In France, a balanced diet allows to provide sufficient intakes of water, nutrients, vitamins and minerals. However, supplementations with minerals and/or vitamins (after medical prescription or self-medication) is increasingly observed in pregnant women (PW). The objective of the Micro-IMAGE study is to quantify water intakes, and vitamins and minerals intakes brought by medicines, dietary supplements and/or bottled water consumed by women during the second (T2) and third trimester (T3) of pregnancy.Methods: A cross-sectional epidemiological study was carried out among 100 pregnant women followed at the Estaing Hospital (Clermont-Ferrand, France). Data were collected with a standardized questionnaire during face-to-face interviews. Statistical analysis were carried out with Modalisa® 8.0 (Kynos, Paris).Results: The Micro-IMAGE study showed that daily water intakes (tap water and/or bottled water) differed significantly between T2 and T3 (respectively, 1480 ± 494 ml and 1229 ± 554 ml). 59% of PW consumed mineralized bottled water (up to 3325 mg/L). Moreover, 48% of PW had vitamins and minerals supplementations, brought by drugs or dietary supplements prescribed by doctors/obstetricians (40%) or midwives (60%). These supplements were observed for 30% of PW in T2 and for 60% of PW in T3. Systematic supplementations may lead to an excess of References Daily Intake (RDI). This situation was shown for vitamin B6, vitamin B12, and iron (mean daily intakes for iron, 117.2 +/- 89.6% of RDI - for vitamin B6, 120.7 +/- 153.3% of RDI - for vitamin B9, 119.1 +/- 76.8% of RDI).Conclusions: The Micro-IMAGE study highlighted that pregnant women had the recommended water intakes. Moreover, nearly one in two pregnant women benefited from supplementation in vitamins and minerals. The risk of exceeding the RDI must be taken into account by perinatal health professionals before any prescriptions of vitamins and/or minerals supplementations.Key messages:- Adequate water intake, but risks of exceeding References Daily Intake (RDI) for some minerals and vitamins were observed.- Minerals and vitamins must not be systematically prescribed during pregnancy