Whole grain intake, determined by dietary records and plasma alkylresorcinol concentrations, is low among pregnant women in Singapore
Magazine article, 2015
Background and Objectives: To quantify whole grain intake in pregnant women in Singapore in order to provide the first detailed analysis of whole grain intake in an Asian country and in pregnant women. Methods and Study Design: Analysis of 24-h diet recalls in a cross-sectional cohort study and analysis of a biomarker of whole grain intake (plasma alkylresorcinols) in a subset of subjects. The Growing Up in Singapore Towards healthy Outcomes-mother offspring cohort study based in Singapore. 998 pregnant mothers with complete 24-h recalls taken during their 26-28th week of gestation. Plasma samples from a randomly select subset of 100 subjects were analysed for plasma allcylresorcinols. Results: Median (IQR) whole grain intake for the cohort and the 30% who reported eating whole grains were 0 (IQR 0, 9) and 23.6 (IQR 14.6, 44.2) g/day respectively. Plasma alkylresorcinol concentrations were very low [median (IQR)=9 (3, 15) nmol/L], suggesting low intake of whole grain wheat in this population. Plasma allcylresorcinols were correlated with whole grain wheat intake (Spearman's r=0.35; p<0.01). Conclusions: Whole grain intake among pregnant mothers in Singapore was well below the 2-3 (60-95 g) servings of whole grains per day recommended by the Singapore Health Promotion Board. Efforts to increase whole grain intake should be supported to encourage people to choose whole grains over refined gains in their diet.
alkylresorcinols
dietary intake
whole grain
pregnant women
Singapore
Author
Alastair Ross
Chalmers, Biology and Biological Engineering, Food and Nutrition Science
M. T. Colega
Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore
A. L. Lim
Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore
I. Silva-Zolezzi
Nestle S.A.
K. Mace
Nestle S.A.
S. M. Saw
National University Health System
K. Kwek
K.K. Women's and Children's Hospital
P. Gluckman
Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore
University of Auckland
K. M. Godfrey
NHS Foundation Trust
Y. S. Chong
Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore
Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine
M. F. F. Chong
Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore
Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine
SICS
Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition
0964-7058 (ISSN) 1440-6047 (eISSN)
Vol. 24 4 674-682Subject Categories (SSIF 2011)
Nutrition and Dietetics
DOI
10.6133/apjcn.2015.24.4.19
PubMed
26693753