Do Older Women of Reproductive Age Have Better Diet Quality than Younger Women of Reproductive Age?

Maternal diet quality trajectories from pregnancy to 3.5 years postpartum and associated maternal factors

PURPOSE

This study examined maternal diet quality trajectories from pregnancy to 3.5 years postpartum and associated maternal factors.

METHODS

Data of 473 Australian women from the Healthy Beginnings Trial were used. A food frequency questionnaire collected dietary intake in pregnancy and 1, 2 and 3.5 years postpartum. Diet quality scores were calculated using the 2013 Dietary Guideline Index (DGI-2013) and RESIDential Environments Guideline Index (RDGI). Group-based trajectory modelling identified diet quality trajectories from pregnancy to 3.5 years postpartum. Multivariable logistic regression investigated factors associated with maternal diet quality trajectories.

RESULTS

Two stable trajectories of low or high diet quality were identified for the DGI-2013 and RDGI. Women who smoked had higher odds of following the low versus the high DGI-2013 (OR 1.77; 95%CI 1.15, 2.75) and RDGI (OR 1.80; 95%CI 1.17, 2.78) trajectories, respectively. Women who attended university had lower odds of following the low versus the high DGI-2013 (OR 0.41; 95%CI 0.22, 0.76) and RDGI (OR 0.38; 95%CI 0.21, 0.70) trajectories, respectively. Women who were married had lower odds of following the low versus the high DGI-2013 trajectory (OR 0.39; 95%CI 0.17, 0.89), and women who were unemployed had higher odds of following the low versus the high RDGI trajectory (OR 1.78; 95%CI 1.13, 2.78). Maternal age, country of birth, household composition and pre-pregnancy body mass index were not associated with diet quality trajectories.

CONCLUSION

Maternal diet quality trajectories remained stable from pregnancy to 3.5 years postpartum. Women who smoked, completed high school or less, were not married or were unemployed tended to follow low, stable diet quality trajectories.

Dietary Strategies to Reduce Triglycerides in Women of Reproductive Age: A Simulation Modelling Study

Many women of reproductive age have poor diet quality and are at higher risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes. Triglycerides are a critical risk factor for chronic diseases, and although they can be influenced by diet, there are minimal dietary intervention studies identifying key foods/food groups that reduce triglycerides. We performed data simulation modelling to estimate the potential reductions in fasting triglycerides that could be achieved by different dietary strategies in reproductive age women. The model was created using data from the 2011-2013 Australian Health Survey and incorporated various factors such as demographics, nutrient intake, and plasma biomarkers. Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to estimate triglyceride levels, considering nutrient intake and pre-determined covariates. Dietary scenarios were developed, reducing the consumption of processed/ultra-processed foods, while increasing the intake of minimally processed foods like fruits, vegetables, fish, and nuts. A total of 606 women were included. Reducing processed foods by 50% plus increasing intakes of fruits (75-225 g/day), vegetables (75-225 g/day), or nuts (10-40 g/day) decreased triglycerides by up to 4.3%. Additionally, incorporating 80 g/day of omega 3 fish (>800 mg long-chain omega 3/100 g) decreased triglycerides by 8.2%. The clinical relevance of lowering triglycerides for cardiometabolic disease management should be tested in dietary intervention studies in women.

Is the Association between Age and Fertility Problems Modified by Diet Quality? Findings from a National Study of Reproductive Age Women in Australia

Background: Increasing age is a strong risk factor for infertility, and there is accumulating evidence of the importance of a healthier diet for fertility. Whether a healthier diet modifies the association between increasing age and infertility has not been investigated. This study aimed to (i) examine if better diet quality could help reduce age-related infertility; and (ii) assess whether changes in diet quality over time are associated with fertility problems. Methods: Data were from Surveys 3 and 5 of the 1973−1978 birth cohort of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health. Cross-sectional analysis with multivariable generalized linear models were used to examine the association between age and fertility status, adjusted for various confounders. Multiplicative and additive effect modification by diet quality was assessed, with additive effect modification evaluated with the relative risk for interaction (RERI). Results: In total, 3387 women were included from Survey 3 (age range 24−31 years) and 5614 women from Survey 5 (age range 30−38 years); 588 (17.4%) and 1321 (23.4%) self-reported to have fertility problems in the respective surveys. In Survey 3, compared to younger women with a good-quality diet, older women with a poor-quality diet had a 43% increased risk for fertility problems, with risk increasing after further adjustment for BMI (RR: 1.59; 95% CI: 1.07, 2.37) and PCOS (RR: 1.74; 95% CI: 1.15, 2.62). In Survey 5 in younger women (<33.9 years), there was no association between diet quality and risk for infertility problems. The RERI (across different adjusted models) was between −0.08 (−0.70, 0.55) to −0.39 (−1.40, 0.62) in survey 3 and 0.07 (−0.17, 0.31) to 0.08 (−0.17, 0.32) in Survey 5. Conclusions: There is little evidence to suggest effect modification on the effect of age and fertility problems with diet quality.

Modelling the Impact of Reducing Ultra-Processed Foods Based on the NOVA Classification in Australian Women of Reproductive Age

Women of reproductive age have a high proportion of overweight/obesity and an overall poor nutritional intake and diet quality. Nutritional modelling is a method to forecast potential changes in nutrition composition that may offer feasible and realistic changes to dietary intake. This study uses simulation modelling to estimate feasible population improvements in dietary profile by reducing ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption in Australian women of reproductive age. The simulation used weighted data from the most recent 2011–2012 National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey. A total of 2749 women aged 19–50 years was included, and 5740 foods were examined. The highest daily energy, saturated fat, and added sugar and sodium came from UPF. Reducing UPF by 50% decreased energy intake by 22%, and saturated fat, added sugar, sodium, and alcohol by 10–39%. Reducing UPF by 50% and increasing unprocessed or minimally processed foods by 25% led to a lower estimated reduction in energy and greater estimated reductions in saturated fat and sodium. Replacement of 50% UPF with 75% of unprocessed or minimally processed foods led to smaller estimated reductions in energy and nutrients. Our results provide insight as to the potential impact of population reductions in UPF, but also increasing intake of unprocessed or minimally processed foods, which may be the most feasible strategy for improved nutritional intake.