# Factors associated with the dietary total antioxidant capacity of pregnant Brazilian women

## TL;DR

This study explores how factors like age, education, and pregnancy stage affect antioxidant intake in Brazilian pregnant women.

## Contribution

The study identifies regional and demographic variations in antioxidant consumption among pregnant women in Brazil.

## Key findings

- Aracaju had the highest antioxidant intake, while Palmas had the lowest.
- Older women and those in the second trimester were more likely to have higher antioxidant intake.
- Higher education was associated with lower antioxidant intake.

## Abstract

To investigate the sociodemographic, maternal, and gestational factors associated with the dietary total antioxidant capacity in pregnant Brazilian women.

A cross-sectional study with 2,232 pregnant women aged 18 years old or older, in the first, second, and third trimesters of pregnancy, from eleven cities in the five Brazilian regions. A semi-structured questionnaire was applied to assess socioeconomic, demographic, and health data, and a 24-hour dietary recall (R24h) was used to assess food consumption and analyze the dietary total antioxidant capacity (DTAC), estimated using the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) method.

The median of DTAC was 5.32 mmol/day. Aracaju, Sergipe (SE) had the highest median of DTAC (6.44 mmol/day) and Palmas, Tocantins (TO) had the lowest (4.71 mmol/day). Pregnant women aged 20 to 34 years (OR 1.86; 95%CI 1.26-2.76), 35 years old or older (OR 3.68; 95%CI 2.21-6.14) and who were in the second trimester of pregnancy (OR 1.50; 95%CI 1.11-2.01) were more likely to be above the median DTAC. While pregnant women with higher education had a 67% lower chance of being above the median DTAC (OR 0.67; 95%CI 0.48-0.92).

The study demonstrated that there are differences in antioxidant consumption in different cities in Brazil and that associated factors such as age, education, and gestational trimester can impact the intake of foods rich in antioxidants. The profile found draws attention to the importance of an adequate diet rich in antioxidants during prenatal care.

Investigar os fatores sociodemográficos, maternos e gestacionais associados à capacidade antioxidante total da dieta em gestantes brasileiras.

Estudo transversal com 2.232 gestantes com 18 anos ou mais, no primeiro, segundo e terceiro trimestres de gestação de onze cidades das cinco regiões brasileiras. Foi aplicado um questionário semiestruturado para avaliação dos dados socioeconômicos, demográficos e de saúde, e o recordatório de 24h (R24h) para avaliação do consumo alimentar e análise da Capacidade Antioxidante Total da Dieta (CATd), estimada usando o método Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP).

A mediana de CATd foi de 5,32 mmol/dia. Aracaju (SE) apresentou a maior mediana de CATd (6,44 mmol/dia) e Palmas (TO) a menor (4,71 mmol/dia). As gestantes de 20 a 34 anos (OR 1,86; IC95% 1,26-2,76), 35 anos ou mais (OR 3,68; IC95% 2,21-6,14) e que estavam no segundo trimestre de gestação (OR 1,50; IC95%; 1,11-2,01) tiveram mais chances de estarem acima da mediana de CATd, enquanto as gestantes com maior escolaridade tinham 67% menos chance de estarem acima da mediana de CATd (OR 0,67; IC95% 0,48-0,92).

O estudo demonstrou que há diferenças no consumo de antioxidantes em diferentes cidades do Brasil e que fatores associados, como idade, escolaridade e trimestre gestacional podem impactar na ingestão de alimentos ricos em antioxidantes. O perfil encontrado chama atenção para a importância de uma alimentação adequada e rica em antioxidantes durante o pré-natal.