Maureen L Storey1, Patricia A Anderson2. 1. Maureen Storey, LLC, Gainesville, VA. Electronic address: maureenstoreyllc@gmail.com. 2. Monroe, WA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To examine intake of selected nutrients and vegetable consumption of women of childbearing age (WCBA) from 19-50 years of age, across race/ethnicities, and annual household incomes. DESIGN: Dietary data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2009-2012 and the Food Pattern Equivalents Database 2009-2012. PARTICIPANTS: The study sample included 3,058 WCBA who were non-Hispanic white (NHW), non-Hispanic black (NHB), Mexican American (MA), and of other races/ethnicities (ORE) with annual household incomes of < $25,000, $25,000-75,000 or > $75,000. VARIABLES MEASURED: Average daily consumption of vegetables and mean intakes of nutrients of concern from foods, including potassium (K), dietary fiber (DF), calcium, magnesium, iron, vitamin C, and folates. ANALYSIS: The analysis compared mean vegetable consumption and nutrient intake from food to current recommendations across race/ethnicity and household income categories. RESULTS: On average, WCBA consumed 1.43 cup equivalents/d of total vegetables and NHB WCBA consumed fewer vegetables than did NHW (P < .01), MA (P < .01), and ORE (P < .01) WCBA. Mean consumption of starchy vegetables, including white potatoes (WP), by WCBA was also below the recommended 5-6 cups of starchy vegetables per week. Average intake of K was 2,364 mg, or about half of the recommended 4,700 mg. Mean DF intake, 15.4 g, was about 60% of the recommended 25 g. In general, NHB WCBA consumed fewer vegetables than did NHW (P < 0.01), MA (P < 0.01), and ORE (P < 0.01) WCBA. On average, WCBA in households with incomes < $25,000 consumed fewer vegetables and had lower intakes of K, DF, calcium, and iron than did WCBA with household incomes > $75,000 (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: These results showed that WCBA had low vegetable consumption, including starchy vegetables, compared with recommendations in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2015-2020. Potassium and DF intakes were low among WCBA, but especially so for NHB WCBA and WCBA with limited financial resources. Government-sponsored food assistance programs should consider policies that encourage WCBA to consume more vegetables, including starchy vegetables, such as WP and lima beans that are rich in K and an important source of DF.
OBJECTIVE: To examine intake of selected nutrients and vegetable consumption of women of childbearing age (WCBA) from 19-50 years of age, across race/ethnicities, and annual household incomes. DESIGN: Dietary data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2009-2012 and the Food Pattern Equivalents Database 2009-2012. PARTICIPANTS: The study sample included 3,058 WCBA who were non-Hispanic white (NHW), non-Hispanic black (NHB), Mexican American (MA), and of other races/ethnicities (ORE) with annual household incomes of < $25,000, $25,000-75,000 or > $75,000. VARIABLES MEASURED: Average daily consumption of vegetables and mean intakes of nutrients of concern from foods, including potassium (K), dietary fiber (DF), calcium, magnesium, iron, vitamin C, and folates. ANALYSIS: The analysis compared mean vegetable consumption and nutrient intake from food to current recommendations across race/ethnicity and household income categories. RESULTS: On average, WCBA consumed 1.43 cup equivalents/d of total vegetables and NHB WCBA consumed fewer vegetables than did NHW (P < .01), MA (P < .01), and ORE (P < .01) WCBA. Mean consumption of starchy vegetables, including white potatoes (WP), by WCBA was also below the recommended 5-6 cups of starchy vegetables per week. Average intake of K was 2,364 mg, or about half of the recommended 4,700 mg. Mean DF intake, 15.4 g, was about 60% of the recommended 25 g. In general, NHB WCBA consumed fewer vegetables than did NHW (P < 0.01), MA (P < 0.01), and ORE (P < 0.01) WCBA. On average, WCBA in households with incomes < $25,000 consumed fewer vegetables and had lower intakes of K, DF, calcium, and iron than did WCBA with household incomes > $75,000 (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: These results showed that WCBA had low vegetable consumption, including starchy vegetables, compared with recommendations in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2015-2020. Potassium and DF intakes were low among WCBA, but especially so for NHB WCBA and WCBA with limited financial resources. Government-sponsored food assistance programs should consider policies that encourage WCBA to consume more vegetables, including starchy vegetables, such as WP and lima beans that are rich in K and an important source of DF.