Dietary Energy Intakes of Sudanese Pregnant Women

Purpose: To determine dietary energy intake of pregnant Sudanese women in their third trimester, with focus on macronutrients fat,, carbohydrates, and protein and their contribution to dietary energy. Methods and Materials: Dietary intake of pregnant women (n=81) in their third trimester (15 to 41years) attending Omdurman Maternity Hospital, Khartoum State was assessed by 3-days 24-hour dietary recall sheet. Diets consumed were converted to nutrients using Nutri-survey software package. Database was modified from other food composition tables. RDA values were based on FAO/WHO/UNU reference values. Results: Energy and carbohydrates intakes were significantly lower than the RDA (P<0.000). Adequacy of intake was 40%, 69.2%, 32.1%, 66.7% for energy, protein, and fat, respectively. Contribution to total energy was 20% by protein, 55% by carbohydrate and 25% by fat. Conclusion: Energy and carbohydrates intake were inadequate by pregnant Sudanese mothers in their third trimester. This might probably affect birth weight. Therefore intake of energy from carbohydrates should be increased. Keyword: Macronutrient, Pregnancy, Health, development, Sudan