Protein Insufficiency Among First-Trimester Pregnant Women in Jambi, Indonesia

Background: Insufficient protein intake or specific patterns of plasma amino acid levels during pregnancy has been associated with adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. Studies in non-pregnant women have reported an association between protein intake and amino acid levels, however, data in pregnan...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Herlambang Herlambang, Anggelia Puspasari, Citra Maharani, Rina Nofri Enis, Amelia Dwi Fitri, Erny Kusdiyah, Ismi Nurwaqiah Ibnu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universitas Padjadjaran 2025-06-01
Series:Althea Medical Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journal.fk.unpad.ac.id/index.php/amj/article/view/4044
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849419251887112192
author Herlambang Herlambang
Anggelia Puspasari
Citra Maharani
Rina Nofri Enis
Amelia Dwi Fitri
Erny Kusdiyah
Ismi Nurwaqiah Ibnu
author_facet Herlambang Herlambang
Anggelia Puspasari
Citra Maharani
Rina Nofri Enis
Amelia Dwi Fitri
Erny Kusdiyah
Ismi Nurwaqiah Ibnu
author_sort Herlambang Herlambang
collection DOAJ
description Background: Insufficient protein intake or specific patterns of plasma amino acid levels during pregnancy has been associated with adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. Studies in non-pregnant women have reported an association between protein intake and amino acid levels, however, data in pregnant women remain limited. Jambi, a region rich in freshwater fish, has a traditional dishes based on fish, which may affect maternal protein adequacy. This study aimed to assess protein sufficiency intake, plasma essential amino acid levels, and the relationship between fish consumption and protein intake among first-trimester pregnant women. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2022 involving pregnant women at 9-16 weeks of gestation in Jambi, Indonesia, selected through purposive sampling. Protein intake and fish consumption data were collected using Food Frequency Questionnaires. Plasma essential amino acid levels were measured using Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. Bivariate analyses were performed using Mann-Whitney and Chi-square tests. Results: Among 30 participants, 23.3% had insufficient protein intake and had lower plasma essential amino acid levels. Lysine levels showed a statistically significant difference between groups (p=0.010). Women with adequate protein intake reported significant higher fish consumption, particularly of freshwater fish (p=0.033). Conclusion: Adequate protein intake during early pregnancy is related to higher plasma essential amino acid levels. Consumption of local freshwater fish contributes to maintaining sufficient protein intake. These findings emphasize the importance of integrating healthy dietary patterns and locally sourced nutrient-rich foods into prenatal care to support maternal wellness and long-term health outcomes.
format Article
id doaj-art-10db3147fc0e468a8a432530ee12c2f4
institution Kabale University
issn 2337-4330
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Universitas Padjadjaran
record_format Article
series Althea Medical Journal
spelling doaj-art-10db3147fc0e468a8a432530ee12c2f42025-08-20T03:32:11ZengUniversitas PadjadjaranAlthea Medical Journal2337-43302025-06-0112211011610.15850/amj.v12n2.40441863Protein Insufficiency Among First-Trimester Pregnant Women in Jambi, IndonesiaHerlambang Herlambang0Anggelia Puspasari1Citra Maharani2Rina Nofri Enis3Amelia Dwi Fitri4Erny Kusdiyah5Ismi Nurwaqiah Ibnu6Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitas Jambi/Raden Mattaher Hospital JambiDepartment of Medical Biology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitas JambiDepartment of Medical Biology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitas JambiDepartment of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitas JambiDepartment of Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitas JambiDepartment of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitas JambiDepartment of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitas JambiBackground: Insufficient protein intake or specific patterns of plasma amino acid levels during pregnancy has been associated with adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. Studies in non-pregnant women have reported an association between protein intake and amino acid levels, however, data in pregnant women remain limited. Jambi, a region rich in freshwater fish, has a traditional dishes based on fish, which may affect maternal protein adequacy. This study aimed to assess protein sufficiency intake, plasma essential amino acid levels, and the relationship between fish consumption and protein intake among first-trimester pregnant women. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2022 involving pregnant women at 9-16 weeks of gestation in Jambi, Indonesia, selected through purposive sampling. Protein intake and fish consumption data were collected using Food Frequency Questionnaires. Plasma essential amino acid levels were measured using Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. Bivariate analyses were performed using Mann-Whitney and Chi-square tests. Results: Among 30 participants, 23.3% had insufficient protein intake and had lower plasma essential amino acid levels. Lysine levels showed a statistically significant difference between groups (p=0.010). Women with adequate protein intake reported significant higher fish consumption, particularly of freshwater fish (p=0.033). Conclusion: Adequate protein intake during early pregnancy is related to higher plasma essential amino acid levels. Consumption of local freshwater fish contributes to maintaining sufficient protein intake. These findings emphasize the importance of integrating healthy dietary patterns and locally sourced nutrient-rich foods into prenatal care to support maternal wellness and long-term health outcomes.https://journal.fk.unpad.ac.id/index.php/amj/article/view/4044essential amino acid, freshwater fish, pregnancy, protein intake, lysine
spellingShingle Herlambang Herlambang
Anggelia Puspasari
Citra Maharani
Rina Nofri Enis
Amelia Dwi Fitri
Erny Kusdiyah
Ismi Nurwaqiah Ibnu
Protein Insufficiency Among First-Trimester Pregnant Women in Jambi, Indonesia
Althea Medical Journal
essential amino acid, freshwater fish, pregnancy, protein intake, lysine
title Protein Insufficiency Among First-Trimester Pregnant Women in Jambi, Indonesia
title_full Protein Insufficiency Among First-Trimester Pregnant Women in Jambi, Indonesia
title_fullStr Protein Insufficiency Among First-Trimester Pregnant Women in Jambi, Indonesia
title_full_unstemmed Protein Insufficiency Among First-Trimester Pregnant Women in Jambi, Indonesia
title_short Protein Insufficiency Among First-Trimester Pregnant Women in Jambi, Indonesia
title_sort protein insufficiency among first trimester pregnant women in jambi indonesia
topic essential amino acid, freshwater fish, pregnancy, protein intake, lysine
url https://journal.fk.unpad.ac.id/index.php/amj/article/view/4044
work_keys_str_mv AT herlambangherlambang proteininsufficiencyamongfirsttrimesterpregnantwomeninjambiindonesia
AT anggeliapuspasari proteininsufficiencyamongfirsttrimesterpregnantwomeninjambiindonesia
AT citramaharani proteininsufficiencyamongfirsttrimesterpregnantwomeninjambiindonesia
AT rinanofrienis proteininsufficiencyamongfirsttrimesterpregnantwomeninjambiindonesia
AT ameliadwifitri proteininsufficiencyamongfirsttrimesterpregnantwomeninjambiindonesia
AT ernykusdiyah proteininsufficiencyamongfirsttrimesterpregnantwomeninjambiindonesia
AT isminurwaqiahibnu proteininsufficiencyamongfirsttrimesterpregnantwomeninjambiindonesia