Title:
Nutrient Intake Adequacy and Dietary Gaps Among Pregnant Women in the Madhepura District of Bihar: A Cross-sectional Study

Authors:
Priyanka and Dr. Bimla Kumari, India

Abstract:

Objective: The objective of the study was to quantify the nutrient intake of pregnant women in their second trimester, compare the mean nutrient intake with the estimated average requirement. We aimed to arrive at the NAR, MAR and the factors influencing the MAR.

Methods: It was a longitudinal cross-sectional study done during the period of January 2023 to March 2025. Two-day dietary information was taken using the 24 hr dietary recall method. Intakes were converted to nutrients using the diet cal software.  Dietary indicators such as NAR and MAR were calculated. Using the r studio student’s T test, multiple linear regression and data visualization was done.

Results: The data of 400 pregnant women was assessed. The median intake of energy was 1961.1 Kcal/day, protein was  56.747 g/day, fat was 48.33g/day, thiamine was  1.151 mg/day, riboflavin was 0.609mg/day, niacin was 11.427 mg/day, pyridoxine was 1.370 mg/day, folate was 181.879 mg/day, vitamin C was 44.268 mg/day, vitamin A was 104.850 µg/day, calcium was 335.831 mg/day, magnesium was 351.102 mg/day, phosphorous was 1154.1mg/day, iron was 12.807 mg/day and zinc was 8.689 mg/day. The median energy provided by carbohydrate, fat and protein was 65%, 20% and 12 % respectively. The NAR for macromolecules was around 0.9, B-vitamin ranged from 0.271 to 0.717. The most deficit B-vitamin was riboflavin which was deficit in all the pregnant women and folic acid which was deficit in 98% of the pregnant women with NAR of 0.439. Vitamin A was deficit in 99.5% of the pregnant women with NAR of 0.266. Calcium and iron were the most limiting mineral with mean NAR of 0.456 and 0.637 respectively. The MAR of the diet was 0.719. Mean intake of all nutrients differed significantly (p-value<0.001) except for energy and magnesium. Socioeconomic status and family structure (p-value<0.001) influences the mean adequacy ratio.

Conclusion: This is the only study that has quantified the nutrient in the diet of pregnant women of Madhepura, Bihar. The diet of pregnant women is deficit in vitamins particularly riboflavin, folate, ascorbate, vitamin A and mineral namely calcium, iron and zinc. There is a need of dietary fortification, counselling, millets, green vegetables and citrus fruits should be provided by aanganwadi and monitoring of IFA tablet consumption by the ASHA. 

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.51505/ijmshr.2025.9613