Epigenetic changes and nutrition of pregnant women

Cilj istraživanja: Pregledom znanstvene literature ukazati na utjecaj epigenetike i prehrane na razvoj fetusa te prikazati rezultate anketnog istraživanja o prehrambenim navikama trudnica s područja Splitsko-dalmatinske županije. Materijali i metode: Anketno istraživanje se provelo u ginekološkoj ambulanti dr. Baldo Obad u Splitu i ginekološkoj ordinaciji dr. Antonio Pavić u Sinju od svibnja do srpnja 2020. godine. Ispitanice su dobrovoljno i anonimno odgovarale na anketna pitanja. Uzorak je sačinjavalo 50 žena, a jedini kriterij uključenja bila je trenutna trudnoća. Prikupljeni podaci su se unijeli i obradili u statističkom programu SPSS - Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. Svi rezultati su prikazani tablično s detaljnim opisom dobivenih podataka. Rezultati: Većina trudnice iz Splitsko-dalmatinske županije uzima pravilan broj obroka, ali njihov izbor namirnica ne odgovara smjernicama za pravilnu prehranu tijekom trudnoće. Trudnice bi trebale povećati unos cjelovitih žitarica, mliječnih proizvoda, voća i povrća te izbaciti sendviče, pekarske proizvode i slatkiše. Trudnice trebaju povećati dnevni unos tekućine na 2 L. Alkohol i kava se trebaju izbjegavati za piće, a preporuka je da se piju voda i svježe cijeđeni voćni sokovi bez dodatka šećera. Iako pušenje tijekom trudnoće treba izbjegavati, 16% trudnica iz Splitsko-dalmatinske županije puši cigarete. Samo 52% trudnica iz Splitsko-dalmatinske županije smatra da se zdravo hrani, a 44% trudnica misli da je dovoljno jesti kao i prije trudnoće i uzimati dodatke prehrani za trudnice. Zabrinjavajući podaci su da 42% trudnica smatra da nisu dovoljno informirane o važnosti makronutrijenata i vitamina bitnih za razvoj djeteta te da 22% trudnica ne zna koji su makronutrijenti i vitamini važni za razvoj djeteta. Veliki postotak (78%) trudnica uzima dodatke prehrani uglavnom uz preporuku liječnika. Zaključci: Trudnoća je razdoblje tijekom kojeg se u organizmu žene razvija jedan ili više potomaka. Prehrana i epigenetika imaju značajnu ulogu u rastu i razvoju fetusa. Nepravilna prehrana može promijeniti metabolički fenotip potomaka i povećati rizik za pretilost, dijabetes i kardiovaskularne bolesti hipoteza je razvojnog porijekla zdravlja i bolesti (DOHaD - developmental origins of health and disease). S obzirom da trudnice iz Splitsko- dalmatinske županije nemaju prehrambene navike u skladu sa smjernicama prehrane za trudnice, zdravstveni radnici trebaju trudnicama pružiti informacije o pravilnim prehrambenim navikama.Objectives: By review the scientific literature indicate the impact of epigenetics and nutrition on fetal development and present the results of survey about nutrition habits of pregnant women from the Split-Dalmatia county. Materials and methods: The survey was conducted in the gynecological polyclinic dr. Baldo Obad in Split and the gynecological ordination dr. Antonio Pavić in Sinj from May to July 2020. The sample consisted of 50 women and the only inclusion criterion was current pregnancy. The collected data were entered and processed in the statistical program SPSS-Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. All results are presented in a table with a detailed description of the obtained data. Results: Most pregnant women from the Split-Dalmatia county take the correct number of meals, but their food choices is not in accordance with the guidelines for proper nutrition during pregnancy. Pregnant women should increase intake of whole grains, dairy products, fruits and vegetables and eliminate sandwiches, bakery products and sweets. Pregnant women should increase their daily fluid intake to 2 L. Alcohol and coffee should be avoided for drinking and it is recommended to drink water and freshly squeezed fruit juices without added sugar. Although smoking during pregnancy should be avoided, 16% of pregnant women from Split-Dalmatia county smoke cigarettes. Only 52% of pregnant women from the Split-Dalmatia county think that they eat healthily and 44% of pregnant women think that it is enough to eat as before pregnancy and take dietary supplements for pregnant women. Worrying data are that 42% of pregnant women think that they are not sufficiently informed about the importance of macronutrients and vitamins important for the development of the child and that 22% of pregnant women do not know which macronutrients and vitamins are important for the development of the child. A large percentage (78%) of pregnant women take dietary supplements mostly with a doctor's recommendation. Conclusions: Pregnancy is a period during which one or more offspring develop in a woman's body. Nutrition and epigenetics play a significant role in fetal growth and development. Improper nutrition can change the metabolic phenotype of offspring and increase the risk of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease - the hypothesis of the developmental origin of health and disease (DOHaD). Considering that pregnant women from the Split-Dalmatia county do not have nutritional habits in accordance with the dietary guidelines for pregnant women, health professionals should provide information to pregnant women about proper nutritional habits