Dietary intake of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids among pregnant and breastfeeding women in Morogoro, Tanzania
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Date
2023-10-26
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Academic Journals
Abstract
A new-born’s health and wellbeing is determined by the diet and lifestyle of the mother prior, during
and after conception. Polyunsaturated fatty acids play an important role for proper development of
brain and other organs in the body. This study sought to assess dietary intake of omega 6 and omega 3
fatty acids among pregnant and breastfeeding women in Morogoro municipality, Tanzania. About 318
women completed a repeated 24 h dietary recall questionnaire. For calculation of fatty acid intake, the
foods consumed by each participant were entered independently in Nutri Survey software where the
amount of nutrients consumed by each individual was calculated and then exported to SPSS for further
analysis. The results showed high intake of non-alcoholic and carbonated beverages (213.4 g/day) and
low intake of omega 6 and omega 3 rich foods (54.6 g/day). More than half could not attain the
recommended minimum dietary diversity score. The average intake of important omega 6 and omega 3
fatty acids ranged from 0.06 to 1.19 g/day and 0.17 to 0.25 g/day, respectively. When compared with the
recommended intake of energy as well as important omega 6 and omega 3 fatty acids for both pregnant
and breastfeeding women, there were gaps in all of these aspects. Intake of omega 6 and omega 3 rich
foods among pregnant and breastfeeding women was lower than recommended. Nutrition education on
consumption of appropriate polyunsaturated fatty acid rich foods prior, during and after pregnancy
should be given to all women of reproductive age.
Description
Journal article
Keywords
Omega 3 fatty acid, Omega 6 fatty acids, Diet, Essential fatty acids, Pregnant women, Breastfeeding women