531
length at birth time is associated with unnecessary low protein intake while on the
other hand, fetal development is also affected by high protein level (Kramer and
Kakuma 2003). Protein Digestibility Corrected Amino Acid Score (PDCAAS) is
the digestibility score for amino acid which is used to calculate the protein value
(Schaafsma 2000). Animal product values are close to 1 typically together with all
nine essential amino acids, while plant values range below 0.7. However, to improve
the overall quality of protein, its better to take two or more vegetable foods with
different amino acid composition (FAO 2013). Hence, increase in protein intake
during pregnancy is another important step of International guidelines, especially
during the second and third trimesters is important for maternal and fetal tissues and
placenta and also ensure they will gain additional 21 grams (Trumbo et al. 2002).
The increase of 1 gram per day recommended daily allowance (RDA) during the
first trimester of pregnancy and 8 gram per day in the second trimester and in the
same manner for 26 gram per day in the third trimester. If breast milk is already a
significant proportion of the infant’s diet, then, the normal consumption of protein
during exclusive breastfeeding should be 21 gram per day in the first semester and
14 gram per day later (Società di Nutrizione Umana 2014).
24.4.2 Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are the main source of energy for the body, and most particularly for
the brain. Pregnant women need the carbohydrate energy to grow a healthy baby, as
carbohydrate-derived glucose is the main fuel used to grow intrauterine (Clapp
2002). The recommended daily intake (DRI) during pregnancy for carbohydrates is
175 g/d. It is important for pregnant women to choose high-quality carbohydrates
with a low glycemic index (GI), naturally found in whole foods such as whole
grains, bananas, beans, peas, lentils, and low-fat dairy (Clapp 2002). Carbohydrates
may also take the form of additional sugars such as table sugar, honey, syrup, cane
sugar, agave, high-fructose corn syrup, and concentrate of fruit juice. All women,
including pregnant women, must restrict their consumption of these sugars, as well
as foods with high quantities of added sugar such as candy, cookies, and sugarsweetened beverages (soda, juice, lemonade, sweetened teas, and other fruitflavoured beverages). A Malaysian research by Loy et al. found that increased fruit
and vegetable intake was associated with an increase in birth weight, length of birth
and head circumference (Loy et al. 2011).
24.4.3 Fat
The role of quality of fats during pregnancy is extra eminent than their quantity,
particularly for infant development and fetal growth. However, the main concern is
to enhance the relative absorption of polyunsaturated fats by enough intake of docosahexaenoic acid (type of omega 3 fatty acid series) but not by raising the intake of
24 Role of Nutraceuticals in Maternal Nutrition
length at birth time is associated with unnecessary low protein intake while on the
other hand, fetal development is also affected by high protein level (Kramer and
Kakuma 2003). Protein Digestibility Corrected Amino Acid Score (PDCAAS) is
the digestibility score for amino acid which is used to calculate the protein value
(Schaafsma 2000). Animal product values are close to 1 typically together with all
nine essential amino acids, while plant values range below 0.7. However, to improve
the overall quality of protein, its better to take two or more vegetable foods with
different amino acid composition (FAO 2013). Hence, increase in protein intake
during pregnancy is another important step of International guidelines, especially
during the second and third trimesters is important for maternal and fetal tissues and
placenta and also ensure they will gain additional 21 grams (Trumbo et al. 2002).
The increase of 1 gram per day recommended daily allowance (RDA) during the
first trimester of pregnancy and 8 gram per day in the second trimester and in the
same manner for 26 gram per day in the third trimester. If breast milk is already a
significant proportion of the infant’s diet, then, the normal consumption of protein
during exclusive breastfeeding should be 21 gram per day in the first semester and
14 gram per day later (Società di Nutrizione Umana 2014).
24.4.2 Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are the main source of energy for the body, and most particularly for
the brain. Pregnant women need the carbohydrate energy to grow a healthy baby, as
carbohydrate-derived glucose is the main fuel used to grow intrauterine (Clapp
2002). The recommended daily intake (DRI) during pregnancy for carbohydrates is
175 g/d. It is important for pregnant women to choose high-quality carbohydrates
with a low glycemic index (GI), naturally found in whole foods such as whole
grains, bananas, beans, peas, lentils, and low-fat dairy (Clapp 2002). Carbohydrates
may also take the form of additional sugars such as table sugar, honey, syrup, cane
sugar, agave, high-fructose corn syrup, and concentrate of fruit juice. All women,
including pregnant women, must restrict their consumption of these sugars, as well
as foods with high quantities of added sugar such as candy, cookies, and sugarsweetened beverages (soda, juice, lemonade, sweetened teas, and other fruitflavoured beverages). A Malaysian research by Loy et al. found that increased fruit
and vegetable intake was associated with an increase in birth weight, length of birth
and head circumference (Loy et al. 2011).
24.4.3 Fat
The role of quality of fats during pregnancy is extra eminent than their quantity,
particularly for infant development and fetal growth. However, the main concern is
to enhance the relative absorption of polyunsaturated fats by enough intake of docosahexaenoic acid (type of omega 3 fatty acid series) but not by raising the intake of
24 Role of Nutraceuticals in Maternal Nutrition