Nutrition Across the Lifespan Flashcards
Explain nutrition requirements for people in the pre-conception stage
Optimal nutritional status before conception (for both sexes)
Appropriate body weight - both extremes can influence fertility
Adequate body stores
Folic acid - supplementation to decrease Neural tube defect - 400ug/day until 12 weeks gestation (higher doses fro some groups)
Issues: 55% of women don’t take folic acid supplements for the recommended time
Not all pregnancies are planned
Fortification of flour (2021)
What are the 4 key things relating to nutrition in fertility and preconception?
Optimal body weight
Avid harmful substances
Increases intake of beneficial nutrients
Reduce intake of harmful nutrients
How does folic acid prevent neural tube defect (NTD)?
High intake of folic acid decreases the incidence of NTF e.g. spina bifida
Explain nutritional requirements during pregnancy
Have to think about the placenta, blood supply, and foetus
Energy requirements – 2000kcal/day in last trimester
High-quality nutritious diet – a small increase in protein, 10ug vitamin D, 400ug folic acid, slight increases in some minerals
Maternal stores
Adaptations in pregnancy – e.g., BMR, iron absorption
Effects of body weight in pregnancy – obesity and low maternal weight
Birth weight and effects on health in later life (Barker hypothesis)
Foods to avoid in pregnancy – listeriosis, toxoplasmosis, methyl mercury, food poisoning, caffeine, alcohol
Morning sickness, constipation
Why is maternal nutrition important?
Delivery of energy and substrates for fetal development
Impaired nutrition can lead to sub-optimal fetal development
Impact organ development quality and disease risk
If a mother is obese and has a BMI of over 30 during pregnancy, what are some of the things they are at greater risk of?
Miscarriage
Gestational diabetes
Pre-eclampsia
Complicated operative delivery
Postpartum haemorrhage
Thromboembolism
Foetal macrosomia
Birth defects
Birth trauma
Wound infections
Stillbirth
Explain what the Barker hypothesis is
Birth weight has been linked to the incidence of chronic disease in adult life including CHD, hypertension, High cholesterol, and Type 2 diabetes
Explain what some of the dietary advice given to prevent women are (UK)
Don’t consume:
Some types of cheese
Raw or partially cooked eggs
Raw of undercooked meat
Some types of fish
Raw shellfish
Peanuts
Foods with soil on them
Pate
Liver
Supplements containing Vitamin A
Sushi
Cold cured meats
Unpasteurized milk
Caffeine
In pregnancy how much folic acid and vitamin D should the mother take?
Folic Acid - 400ug
Vitamin D - 10ug
Explain some nutritional requirements a mother would have during lactation
Breast milk complex and unique combination of nutrition and immune factors
Extra energy is required but body stores meet some requirements
Some variation in the nutrient content of milk depending on the mother’s diet (e.g., water-soluble vitamins)
Energy restriction in obese lactating women does not affect the quality of breast milk
Benefits of breastfeeding to the infant and mother
Some women can’t or choose not to breastfeed – formula as an alternative (pros/cons)
Explain some of the NHS recommendations for breastfeeding
Healthy diet
Vitamin D supplements - 10ug/day
Limit oily fish to 2 portions per week
Limit caffeine
Limit alcohol - 1-2 units/week
Stop smoking (but don’t stop breastfeeding for smoking)
Explain some of the benefits of breastfeeding for the mother and infant
Mother:
Promotes uterine recovery
↓ risk of postpartum hemorrhage
Delayed menstruation (↓ Fe loss)
↓ anxiety
↓ risk of breast and ovarian cancers
Benefits to bone health in later life
Aid post-pregnancy weight loss
Infants:
↓ risk of neonatal infections (especially in developing countries)
Promotes development of the immature gut
↓ risk of infant allergy and asthma
↓ ear, gut, urinary tract, and chest infections
↓ obesity and diabetes risk
Benefits to gut microbiome
What are some of the nutritional requirements for infants and toddlers?
High requirements - growth and development
Weaning/complementary feeding
Fussy eating
Development of lifelong eating habits
What is the optimum weaning age and when is it the right time to wean a child?
At around 6 moths weaning window (17 - 26 weeks) i.e., not less than 4 months but by 6 months
Flexible in tune with baby and family
Is beginning to sit unsupported
Takes objects into mouth accurately
Is beginning to chew and bite
Hand chewing/waking at night/ wanting extra feeds are normal
Explain some of the impacts of fussy eating
Decreased fiber intake and increased constipation
Decreased intake of fruit and vegetables
Decreased intake of protein foods e.g. meat and fish
Energy intake is adequate but might be less than non-fussy eaters
Calcium, Iron, Vitamin D, and Vitamin E may be decreases
Inconclusive evidence on the impact on nutrient and energy intake, and health-related outcomes
Most studies are cross-sectional, and some have no control group
