Association of dietary fiber, liquid intake and lifestyle characteristics with gastrointestinal symptoms and pregnancy outcome

Johanna Kristiina Reijonen; Kati Maaria Hannele Tihtonen; Tiina Hannele Luukkaala; Jukka Tapio Uotila

doi:10.1016/j.eurox.2022.100168

Association of dietary fiber, liquid intake and lifestyle characteristics with gastrointestinal symptoms and pregnancy outcome

Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol X. 2022 Oct 15:16:100168. doi: 10.1016/j.eurox.2022.100168. eCollection 2022 Dec.

Authors

Johanna Kristiina Reijonen¹, Kati Maaria Hannele Tihtonen¹, Tiina Hannele Luukkaala², Jukka Tapio Uotila¹

Affiliations

¹ Tampere University Hospital, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, PL 2000, 33521 Tampere, Finland.
² Tampere University Hospital, Research, Development and Innovation Center, and Tampere University, Faculty of Sciences, Health Sciences, Finland.

Abstract

Objectives: Heartburn and constipation are common gastrointestinal symptoms during pregnancy. High fiber and liquid intake have beneficial effects on these symptoms in non- pregnant population. Our aim was to evaluate the association of dietary fiber, fluid intake and lifestyle characteristics with constipation, heartburn, and pregnancy outcome.

Study design: Two hundred pregnant women were enrolled in this prospective cohort study during the 1st trimester of pregnancy. Participants completed a self- administered questionnaire concerning bowel symptoms, dietary fiber, liquid intake, and lifestyle characteristics before pregnancy, during pregnancy and post-partum. After exclusions 173 pregnant women participated the study and 173, 173, 136, 109 and 91 completed pre-pregnancy, and 1st, 2nd, and 3rd trimester, and post-partum questionnaires, respectively. Data on deliveries and perinatal outcome (n = 173) were collected from hospital records. In trajectory analysis, the women were clustered in groups based on the intake of fiber and liquids. Generalized linear mixed models and logistic regression analyses were used to find associations of fiber and fluid intake with constipation, heartburn and pregnancy outcome.

Results and conclusions: Heartburn increased significantly during pregnancy and the highest prevalence (33%) was during the third trimester. A combination of low fiber and low fluid intake increased the risk of constipation during pregnancy (OR 5.9, 95% CI 2.00-17.4). Low fiber intake increased the risk of combined adverse outcome (cesarean section, premature delivery and/or small for gestational age; OR 3.4, 95% CI 1.2-9.6). Sufficient fiber and liquid intake may be protective against pregnancy-associated constipation and may be associated with improved pregnancy outcome.

Keywords: AGA, Appropriate for Gestational Age; BMI, Body Mass Index; CS, Cesarean Section; Dietary fiber; Heartburn and constipation in pregnancy; LGA, Large for Gestational Age; Pregnancy outcome; SGA, Small for Gestational Age.