Maternal Nutrition in Ireland: Issues of Public Health Concern

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Abstract

This chapter describes the major nutrition-related issues of current public health concern in Ireland. Specifically, we discuss concerns related to maternal obesity, gestational weight gain, gestational diabetes, folate, vitamin D, iron, long-chain polyunsaturated acids, and alcohol use. For each issue, the extent of the problem is outlined and any Irish-based interventions to improve the situation are described. National policies and clinical guidelines relating to each issue are also discussed.

Keywords

Perinatal nutrition Folic acid Vitamin D Supplementation Alcohol usage Obesity Gestational weight gain Gestational diabetes 

Abbreviations

25(OH)D

25 – hydroxyvitamin D

Atlantic-DIP

Atlantic diabetes in pregnancy

BMI

Body mass index

DHA

Docosahexaenoic acid

EFSA

European Food Safety Authority

EPA

Eicosapentaenoic acid

FSAI

Food Safety Authority of Ireland

GDM

Gestational diabetes mellitus

GUI

Growing up in Ireland

GWG

Gestational weight gain

HSE

Health Services Executive

IADPSG

International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups

ICGP

Irish College of General Practitioners

IOM

Institute of Medicine

IUNA

Irish Universities Nutrition Alliance

LC-PUFA

Long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids

NANS

National adult nutrition survey

NTD

Neural tube defect

OGTT

Oral glucose tolerance test

PRAMS

Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System

RDA

Recommended daily allowance

RNI

Reference nutrient intake

ROLO

Randomized cOntrol trial of LOw glycaemic index diet to prevent macrosomia in euglycemic women

SCOPE

Screening for Pregnancy Endpoints

SLAN

Survey on lifestyle and attitudes to nutrition

US

United States

WHO

World Health Organization

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Copyright information

© Springer International Publishing AG 2017

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT)School of Biological SciencesDublinIreland

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