First-trimester nutrition insights from the United Arab Emirate Birth Cohort Study (UAE-BCS): assessment of dietary intake, micronutrient profiles, and folic acid supplementation in Emirati Women
Maternal health and nutrition in early pregnancy play a vital role in the growth and development of the foetus. During this time, macro and micronutrients contribute to nutritional programming, which helps form the foundations of the foetus’s life course health outcomes. This study aimed to investig...
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Cambridge University Press
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Nutritional Science |
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| author | Sharon Mutare Maysm Mohamad Jack Feehan Leila Cheikh Ismail Habiba I. Ali Lily Stojanovska Howaida Khair Abdullah Shehab Raghib Ali Nahla Hwalla Samer Kharroubi Andrew Hills Michelle Fernandes Salama Al Neyadi Ayesha S. Al Dhaheri |
| author_facet | Sharon Mutare Maysm Mohamad Jack Feehan Leila Cheikh Ismail Habiba I. Ali Lily Stojanovska Howaida Khair Abdullah Shehab Raghib Ali Nahla Hwalla Samer Kharroubi Andrew Hills Michelle Fernandes Salama Al Neyadi Ayesha S. Al Dhaheri |
| author_sort | Sharon Mutare |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Maternal health and nutrition in early pregnancy play a vital role in the growth and development of the foetus. During this time, macro and micronutrients contribute to nutritional programming, which helps form the foundations of the foetus’s life course health outcomes. This study aimed to investigate dietary habits, macro and micronutrient intake, micronutrient status, and folic acid supplement adherence among Emirati pregnant women in their first trimester. Data were collected according to the UAE-BCS study protocol, which was set up to investigate maternal nutrition, health, child growth, and developmental outcomes within the first 1000 days. Pregnant Emirati women with singleton pregnancies within their first trimester of pregnancy (between 8 and 12 weeks of gestation) were enrolled. The 24-hour food recall method was administered to collect dietary intake. The maternal mean average age was 29 years. Participants had high adherence to supplementation during pregnancy compared to preconception. The mean energy intake was 1345kcal, and 56% of participants consumed saturated fats above the acceptable macronutrient distribution ranges (AMDR), while 94% consumed below AMDR for total fibre. The consumption of micronutrients was below the recommended dietary allowance (RDA). Biochemical results show a high prevalence of low haemoglobin (74%) and deficiencies in vitamin D (39%) and vitamin E (96%). There is a need for research into dietary patterns and influences in pregnant women in the UAE. Furthermore, investigations of knowledge practices and attitudes towards supplementation and the factors contributing to folic acid supplement use are needed to inform government strategies and interventions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7864f835bcc64dc0ae135398b32aa692 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2048-6790 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Nutritional Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-7864f835bcc64dc0ae135398b32aa6922025-08-20T02:52:52ZengCambridge University PressJournal of Nutritional Science2048-67902025-01-011410.1017/jns.2025.11First-trimester nutrition insights from the United Arab Emirate Birth Cohort Study (UAE-BCS): assessment of dietary intake, micronutrient profiles, and folic acid supplementation in Emirati WomenSharon Mutare0Maysm Mohamad1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6396-6625Jack Feehan2Leila Cheikh Ismail3https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3048-7481Habiba I. Ali4Lily Stojanovska5Howaida Khair6Abdullah Shehab7Raghib Ali8Nahla Hwalla9https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0685-6323Samer Kharroubi10Andrew Hills11https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7787-7201Michelle Fernandes12https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0051-3389Salama Al Neyadi13Ayesha S. Al Dhaheri14https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7634-3531Department of Nutrition and Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab EmiratesDepartment of Nutrition and Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab EmiratesInstitute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC, AustraliaDepartment of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Health Sciences, Research Institute of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates Nuffield Department of Women’s and Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UKDepartment of Nutrition and Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab EmiratesInstitute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC, AustraliaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab EmiratesDepartment of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, UAE University, Al-Ain, United Arab EmiratesPublic Health Research Centre, New York University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab EmiratesFaculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, LebanonFaculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, LebanonSchool of Health Sciences, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Launceston, TAS, AustraliaDepartment of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK Nuffield Department of Women’s & Reproductive Health, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre and Human Development and Health Academic Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UKDepartment of Nutrition and Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab EmiratesDepartment of Nutrition and Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab EmiratesMaternal health and nutrition in early pregnancy play a vital role in the growth and development of the foetus. During this time, macro and micronutrients contribute to nutritional programming, which helps form the foundations of the foetus’s life course health outcomes. This study aimed to investigate dietary habits, macro and micronutrient intake, micronutrient status, and folic acid supplement adherence among Emirati pregnant women in their first trimester. Data were collected according to the UAE-BCS study protocol, which was set up to investigate maternal nutrition, health, child growth, and developmental outcomes within the first 1000 days. Pregnant Emirati women with singleton pregnancies within their first trimester of pregnancy (between 8 and 12 weeks of gestation) were enrolled. The 24-hour food recall method was administered to collect dietary intake. The maternal mean average age was 29 years. Participants had high adherence to supplementation during pregnancy compared to preconception. The mean energy intake was 1345kcal, and 56% of participants consumed saturated fats above the acceptable macronutrient distribution ranges (AMDR), while 94% consumed below AMDR for total fibre. The consumption of micronutrients was below the recommended dietary allowance (RDA). Biochemical results show a high prevalence of low haemoglobin (74%) and deficiencies in vitamin D (39%) and vitamin E (96%). There is a need for research into dietary patterns and influences in pregnant women in the UAE. Furthermore, investigations of knowledge practices and attitudes towards supplementation and the factors contributing to folic acid supplement use are needed to inform government strategies and interventions.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2048679025000114/type/journal_articleDietary intakeEarly pregnancyFirst trimesterFolic acid adherenceMacronutrient intakeMaternal dietary habitsMicronutrient intakeSupplement useUnited Arab Emirates |
| spellingShingle | Sharon Mutare Maysm Mohamad Jack Feehan Leila Cheikh Ismail Habiba I. Ali Lily Stojanovska Howaida Khair Abdullah Shehab Raghib Ali Nahla Hwalla Samer Kharroubi Andrew Hills Michelle Fernandes Salama Al Neyadi Ayesha S. Al Dhaheri First-trimester nutrition insights from the United Arab Emirate Birth Cohort Study (UAE-BCS): assessment of dietary intake, micronutrient profiles, and folic acid supplementation in Emirati Women Journal of Nutritional Science Dietary intake Early pregnancy First trimester Folic acid adherence Macronutrient intake Maternal dietary habits Micronutrient intake Supplement use United Arab Emirates |
| title | First-trimester nutrition insights from the United Arab Emirate Birth Cohort Study (UAE-BCS): assessment of dietary intake, micronutrient profiles, and folic acid supplementation in Emirati Women |
| title_full | First-trimester nutrition insights from the United Arab Emirate Birth Cohort Study (UAE-BCS): assessment of dietary intake, micronutrient profiles, and folic acid supplementation in Emirati Women |
| title_fullStr | First-trimester nutrition insights from the United Arab Emirate Birth Cohort Study (UAE-BCS): assessment of dietary intake, micronutrient profiles, and folic acid supplementation in Emirati Women |
| title_full_unstemmed | First-trimester nutrition insights from the United Arab Emirate Birth Cohort Study (UAE-BCS): assessment of dietary intake, micronutrient profiles, and folic acid supplementation in Emirati Women |
| title_short | First-trimester nutrition insights from the United Arab Emirate Birth Cohort Study (UAE-BCS): assessment of dietary intake, micronutrient profiles, and folic acid supplementation in Emirati Women |
| title_sort | first trimester nutrition insights from the united arab emirate birth cohort study uae bcs assessment of dietary intake micronutrient profiles and folic acid supplementation in emirati women |
| topic | Dietary intake Early pregnancy First trimester Folic acid adherence Macronutrient intake Maternal dietary habits Micronutrient intake Supplement use United Arab Emirates |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2048679025000114/type/journal_article |
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