Pregnant adolescent and adult women have similarly low intakes of selected nutrients.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the dietary intake of pregnant adolescents during the second and third trimester of pregnancy, and to compare their nutrient intake with that of pregnant adults.

DESIGN: Two 7-day food records (14 days) from subjects participating in a larger randomized clinical calcium trial: the first at 19 to 21 weeks and the second between 29 and 31 weeks gestation. Intake of energy and selected nutrients were calculated and compared with dietary standards.

SUBJECTS/SETTING: Fifty-nine pregnant adolescents and 97 pregnant adults recruited from prenatal clinics at a metropolitan university hospital.

STATISTICAL ANALYSES: Two sample t tests, equality of variances, and repeated measures (analysis of variance).

RESULTS: There was no difference in mean nutrient intakes between the second and third trimesters. Using two 7-day food records, we found mean intakes for energy, iron, zinc, calcium, magnesium, folate, and vitamins D and E to be below recommended standards in both groups. Other nutrients examined met or exceeded reference values. Total daily intakes for energy and 11 nutrients were significantly higher in the adolescent compared to the adult diets (P < .05). These differences were not evident when nutrient values were corrected for energy, indicating that increased energy intake in the teen-aged population was contributed by nutrient-dense foods.

APPLICATIONS: This study indicates the need for continued dietary monitoring of pregnant adolescents and pregnant adults, including nutrition guidance that stresses food sources of calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron, fiber, folate, and vitamins D and E, the nutrients found deficient in their diets.