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Reported health, social support, stress and associations with choline intake in pregnant women in central South Africa: the NuEMI study 2018–2019

Archives of Public Health volume 81, Article number: 48 (2023) Cite this article

Abstract

Background

The health and well-being of pregnant women can influence pregnancy outcomes and are closely associated with social support and experiences of stress. Poor nutrition predisposes to poor health with choline intake affecting pregnancy outcome. This study determined reported health, social support, and stress and how these factors are associated with choline intake in pregnancy.

Methods

A cross sectional study was performed. Pregnant women in their second and third trimesters attending a high-risk antenatal clinic at a regional hospital in Bloemfontein, South Africa, were included. Trained fieldworkers obtained information during structured interviews using standardised questionnaires. Logistic regression with backward selection (p < 0.05) was used to select significant independent factors associated with choline intake. Variables with a p-value < 0.15 in bivariate analysis were considered for inclusion in the model.

Results

Median age and gestation in the sample (N = 682) were 31.8 years and 32.0 weeks, respectively. Most participants (84.7%) consumed less than the adequate intake (AI) of 450 mg of choline per day. Most participants (69.0%) were either overweight or obese. One in eight participants (12.6%) reported not having anyone that could help them in times of need, more than one third (36.0%) reported having unpayable debt and one in twelve (8.4%) reported experiencing physical abuse by their partners. Normotensive participants and those using anti-retroviral therapy (ART) (thus HIV-infected), were more likely to consume choline in amounts below the AI (p = 0.042 and p = 0.011, respectively). Logistic regression analysis showed that the odds of consuming choline in amounts below the AI were lower for participants that were not using ART versus those using ART, with an odds ratio of 0.53.

Conclusion

HIV-infected participants were more likely to consume choline in levels below the AI. This vulnerable group should be the focus of targeted efforts to improve choline intake.

Peer Review reports

Background

Maternal and foetal health outcomes are significantly affected by nutritional status during pregnancy and inadequate intake of essential nutrients during pregnancy impacts negatively on maternal and child health in the short- and long-term [1]. Rapid and significant developmental and physiological changes occur during this period and to support these changes, nutritional requirements increase [2]. Several nutrients, including the micronutrient choline, are especially important to support optimal short- and long-term pregnancy outcomes. Choline is a methyl donor involved in one-carbon metabolism affecting DNA and histone methylation – processes that ultimately regulate gene expression [3]. Choline is also involved in normal placental functioning, as a high choline intake is important for placental angiogenesis [4]. There is a higher need for choline during pregnancy as this nutrient is also vital for normal foetal brain development [5]. Zeisel (2017) suggests that our understanding of developmental abnormalities and the origins of chronic diseases can be better informed by appreciating the influence of methyl-donor nutrients, such as choline, on epigenetic programming [6].

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are responsible for the majority of deaths in the world. The primary NCDs, including cardiovascular and lung diseases, cancers and diabetes, account for 38 of the 41 million NCD-related deaths every year. The World Health Organization (WHO) focuses on preventing NCD-related deaths by attempting to reduce the major risk factors which include unhealthy diets, tobacco use, the harmful use of alcohol and physical inactivity [7]. In South Africa, NCDs are highly prevalent and a major cause for concern. The 2016 South African Demographic and Health Survey (SADHS) (participants > 15 years) revealed that 68.0% of women were overweight or obese, while the prevalence of hypertension and diabetes in women was 46.0% and 13.0% respectively [8]. In addition to the challenge of NCDs in South Africa, prevalence rates of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) remain high, especially in women of reproductive age. Prevalence of HIV in women between the ages of 25 and 44 years ranges from 36.0 to 40.3% [9].

In order to contribute to the health of the mother and infant, antenatal care (ANC) is vital as it provides an opportunity to monitor and screen pregnant women and to identify health risks at an early stage when interventions can positively impact on pregnancy outcome. According to the most recent SADHS, most women in South Africa (94.0%) received ANC from a skilled provider during their most recent pregnancy. Almost all of these women had their blood pressure measured, provided a blood and urine sample and were advised about alcohol and tobacco use [9]. In addition to the mentioned variables, maternal psychological and social stresses are important health-related aspects that must not be neglected during pregnancy. There is evidence to suggest that maternal stress during pregnancy can have major epigenetic effects, contributing to adverse physical and mental effects in the child [10].

As stated by Kuddus and Rahman (2016), health and nutrition cannot entirely be separated. Poor health can cause poor nutrition, as intake and use of nutritious foods and nutrients may be decreased, while poor nutrition can contribute to poor health [11]. Adequate intake of choline during pregnancy contributes to overall good nutrition and as such may contribute to good health of the mother and optimal development of the foetus. Thus, the main aim of the study was to determine reported health, social support and stress and associations with choline intake of pregnant women that participated in the Nutritional status of Expectant Mothers and their newborn Infants (NuEMI) study.

Methodology

A cross-sectional study was undertaken. All pregnant women attending the high-risk antenatal clinic at Pelonomi Hospital, Bloemfontein, South Africa from May 2018 to April 2019 were eligible to participate in this study. This is a high-risk clinic to which older women (> 35 years), and women with multiple pregnancies, previous poor pregnancy outcomes (neonatal death and preterm delivery), two or more previous caesarean sections, a gravida of six or more, obesity, hypertension and/or diabetes mellitus are referred from surrounding areas and towns. A consecutive convenience sample of 682 pregnant women in their second and third trimesters was included.

Dietary intake

Information about dietary intake (N = 681) was determined using a quantitative food frequency questionnaire (QFFQ). Choline intake was determined using data obtained from the QFFQ. The South African Food Composition Database (SA-FCDB) does not contain data on choline content of foods; thus, all food items were first matched to foods in the USDA Database for the Choline Content of Common Foods (Release 2) [12] using the FAO/INFOODS Guidelines for Food Matching [13]. Choline intake was compared to the 1998 dietary reference intake (DRI) values set by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the United States of America (USA), currently known as the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) [14]. Although the estimated average requirement (EAR) should be used to evaluate population intakes of nutrients, no EAR values are yet available for choline and therefore the AI value for pregnant women (19–70 years) of 450 mg/day and the tolerable upper intake level (UL) for all adults of 3500 mg/day [14] were used in this study.

Reported health, social support and stress

Information related to social support (group membership, network of friends, family structure), tobacco and alcohol use, medical and pregnancy history, medications, presence of stress and behaviours related to the control of stress were obtained using the Reported Health and Lifestyle Questionnaire. This questionnaire was adapted from the Antenatal Questionnaire of the Birth to Twenty (BTT) study [15], a longitudinal study focussed on child and adolescent health and development in Africa.

Gestational body mass index (GBMI)

Current weight and height of each participant were measured and entered into an algorithm of Davies et al. (2013) along with gestation in weeks to calculate GBMI. Gestational body mass index was categorised as follows: ≥ 10 to < 19.8 kg/m2 (underweight), ≥ 19.8 to < 26.1 kg/m2 (normal weight), ≥ 26.1 to < 29 kg/m2 (overweight), and ≥ 29 to < 50 kg/m2 (obese) [16]. Participants with a GBMI ≥ 50 kg/m2) were included in the “obese” category.

Validity and reliability

The QFFQ used to determine nutrient intake was adapted from a QFFQ previously validated for use in South Africa [17,18,19]. Researchers and fieldworkers received comprehensive training on dietary intake assessment methodology. The use of dietary intake assessment kits specifically developed for the current study increased reliability, as all fieldworkers used comparable measures for such items as different sized spoons, cups, plates, and bean bags with known volumes to obtain the dietary intake information. Household food measures that were available in local shops were included in the kits. All dietary intake data were checked and coded by only two researchers, both registered dietitians.

Equipment used to obtain anthropometric data were calibrated and the measurements were taken using standardised, established techniques as described in the literature [20]. To further ensure reliability, each measurement was taken three times and the mean value used in analysis. The scale was calibrated with a known weight after every 20th participant was weighed.

Interviews were conducted in the participant’s preferred language (English, Afrikaans, or Sesotho) to ensure that participants understood what was being asked and provided reliable answers.

Data analysis

Collected data were entered into Excel documents. Data cleaning and statistical analysis were performed by the Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State. Data were analysed using SAS/STAT software, Version 9.4 of the SAS system for Windows, Copyright © 2013 SAS Institute Inc. SAS and all other SAS Institute Inc. product or service names are registered trademarks or trademarks of SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA [21].

Descriptive statistics, including frequencies and percentages for categorical data, and means and standard deviations (SDs) for symmetrical numerical variables, or medians and interquartile range (IQR) for skew numerical variables were calculated. Due to occasional missing values (for example one participant did not have dietary information) and subgroup analyses, the number of cases with information are indicated throughout. Differences between groups were assessed by p-values (t-tests for symmetrical numerical variables, Mann-Whitney tests for skew numerical variables, chi-squared tests for categorical variables or Fisher’s exact tests for categorical variables with sparse data) or 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for median, mean or percentage differences. Logistic regression with backward selection (p < 0.05) was used to select significant independent factors associated with choline intake. Variables with a p-value of < 0.15 in bivariate analysis were considered for inclusion in the model.

Ethical considerations

Ethics approval was obtained from the Health Sciences Research Ethics Committee of the University of the Free State (UFS-HSD2018/0625/2603) and the Free State Department of Health. Participants who provided written informed consent were included. To ensure confidentiality, each participant was allocated a unique number and no information that could identify individuals was used in data analysis.

Results

The median age of the sample (N = 682) was 31.8 years (IQR 26.8–36.5 years). Median gestation was 32.0 weeks (IQR 26–36 weeks). Most participants were pregnant with one baby (93.4%), while 6.6% expected twins.

Choline intake

Median daily choline intake (N = 681) was 275.0 mg (IQR: 84.7 mg – 386.7 mg). Most participants consumed less than the adequate intake (AI) of 450 mg/day for choline (84.7%), while 15.3% consumed a value between the AI and the UL (3500 mg/day) [14].

Alcohol and tobacco use

Sample prevalence of alcohol use and smoking and associations thereof with choline intake are presented in Table 1. Considering all participants, 6.2% smoked, and 9.0% consumed alcohol during the current pregnancy. Most of the current smokers did so daily (35/42; 83.3%). Almost one in ten participants (8.8%) snuffed or chewed tobacco during pregnancy. Smoking and alcohol consumption were not significantly associated with choline intake in this sample.

Table 1 Sample prevalence of alcohol use and smoking and associations thereof with choline intake in pregnant women in central South Africa: the NuEMI study 2018–2019
Full size table

Pregnancy health

Most participants (89.6%) had been pregnant before. Almost a quarter of participants were hospitalised at some stage during the current pregnancy (23.5%), with the main reported reasons for hospitalisation being abdominal pain (26.6%), hypertension (18.5%) and vaginal bleeding (5.2%). Symptoms experienced during the current pregnancy included loss of appetite (60.8%), nausea (56.6%), vomiting (54.8%), swelling of the feet (49.6%) and constipation (39.2%). Several participants experienced weight loss of more than 3 kg (17.2%), and diarrhoea for more than three days (13.8%).

Self-reported disease diagnoses of participants are summarised in Table 2. Hypertension (23.0%) and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) (18.5%) were the main conditions that had been diagnosed.

Table 2 Self-reported diagnoses of pregnant women in central South Africa: the NuEMI study 2018–2019
Full size table

A relatively large percentage of participants used medication for hypertension management (23.7%) and antiretroviral therapy (ART) (31.8%), while 3.7% used oral glucose lowering medication.

Table 3 summarises associations between reported health related to pregnancy and choline intake. Participants who did not have hypertension and those who were using ART (thus HIV-infected) had significantly lower choline intakes.

Table 3 Associations between reported health related to pregnancy and choline intake in pregnant women in central South Africa: the NuEMI study 2018–2019
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Gestational body mass index

Gestational body mass index classification and associations between GBMI of participants and choline intake are presented in Table 4. Gestational body mass index was only calculated for participants who were pregnant with one baby, as the algorithm was not developed for multiple gestations. Most participants (69.0%) were either overweight or obese. Median GBMI (N = 637) was 30.8 kg/m2 (obese) with an interquartile range of 24.7 kg/m2 – 37.2 kg/m2. Although not significant, there was a trend suggesting that obese participants were less likely to consume choline in amounts below the AI than participants in the other GBMI categories.

Table 4 Gestational body mass index and choline intake in pregnant women in central South Africa: the NuEMI study 2018–2019
Full size table

Social support and stress

Data related to social support and stress are presented in Table 5. One in eight participants (12.6%) did not have anybody that could help them in times of need. More than one third of participants (36.0%) experienced recent unpayable debt. A concerning finding was that one in every twelve participants experienced physical abuse at the hands of their partners (8.4%). No significant associations were found between social support and stress, and choline intake.

Table 5 Sample prevalence of social support and stress as well as associations thereof with choline intake in pregnant women in central South Africa: the NuEMI study 2018–2019
Full size table

Reported health, social support and stress factors associated with inadequate choline intake: logistic regression

The following reported health, social support and stress variables were considered for inclusion in a logistic regression analysis: pregnant before (no versus yes), current hypertension (no versus yes), current sexually transmitted disease (no versus yes), current ART use (no versus yes) and GBMI (≥ 10 to < 19.8 kg/m2, ≥ 19.8 to < 26.1 kg/m2, ≥ 26.1 to < 29 kg/m2, ≥ 29 kg/m2).

Current ART use was selected in the model with an odds ratio as indicated in Table 6. The odds of having a choline intake below the AI were lower for participants that were not using ART compared to those using ART (HIV-infected) with an odds ratio of 0.53.

Table 6 Reported health, social support and stress factors associated with inadequate choline intake in pregnant women in central South Africa: the NuEMI study 2018–2019: logistic regression
Full size table

Discussion

Median daily choline intake was 275.0 mg which is considerably lower than the AI of 450 mg. Adequate nutrient intake is important to support the health of the mother and baby and promotes optimal development in utero and during the early childhood years. For example, there is evidence that choline is required for placental health, and an optimally functioning placenta decreases the risk of preeclampsia and poor foetal growth [22]. A higher maternal choline intake can also affect gene expression, causing changes that regulate placental vascularisation, angiogenesis and stress reactivity, that may reduce stress-related disease risk in the offspring in adult life [22].

Reported health and lifestyle

Alcohol and tobacco are well-known teratogens and can cause an array of poor health outcomes. South Africa has the highest rate of foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) in the world [23], and almost one in ten participants (9.0%) in the current study consumed alcohol during the current pregnancy. Ideally, pregnant women who consume alcohol should consume higher amounts of choline, because it has been shown that higher choline intake may protect against some of the adverse consequences of FASD [24, 25]. However, no significant associations were found between alcohol use and/ smoking cigarettes and choline intake in the current study.

Almost one quarter of participants were hospitalised during the current pregnancy, mainly due to abdominal pain, hypertension, vaginal bleeding, and vomiting. Furthermore, about one quarter of participants reported hypertension as a current diagnosis. Hypertensive participants were less likely to consume choline in amounts below the AI. Participants with a higher choline intake could have had an overall higher food (and choline) intake, which may have contributed to overweight or obesity – known risk factors for hypertension [26]. An animal study by Liu et al. (2017) found that choline ameliorated cardiovascular damage in hypertensive rats. The authors proposed that the mechanisms by which this occurred could be related to improved vagal activity and inhibition of the inflammatory response. One of the positive cardiovascular outcomes of choline supplementation was a decreased systolic blood pressure and the authors suggest choline as a possible adjunct therapy for hypertension [27]. Although it has been shown that the consumption of choline may increase cardiovascular (CVD) risk through the production of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) [22], a recent meta-analysis by Meyer and Shea (2017) found no association between choline intake and CVD [28]. More research is therefore needed to determine the overall association between choline intake and CVD.

Approximately a third of participants reported using ART at the time of the study. This finding is in line with national statistics, as 25.0% of South African women of reproductive age were HIV-infected in 2019 [29]. A statistically significant association was found between the use of ART and choline intake. The odds of having a choline intake below the AI were lower for participants that were not using ART compared to those that were using ART (HIV-infected) with an odds ratio of 0.53. Various factors can contribute to a poor nutrient intake and a compromised nutritional status in HIV-infected individuals, who are more likely to eat less due to food insecurity, complications of HIV infection, or side effects of medication [30]. A study performed in rural communities in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, demonstrated that individuals from HIV-afflicted households (N = 68) consumed fewer kilojoules and had lower dietary diversity than non-HIV-afflicted households [31]. This highlights the possible effect that HIV might have on food intake causing a lower choline intake. Additionally, common symptoms occurring in pregnancy, such as nausea, constipation and appetite loss, can exacerbate a poor nutrient intake in HIV-infected women.

Gestational body mass index

Although the majority of participants were overweight or obese, 6.6% were underweight. Both overweight [32] and underweight [33] during pregnancy are associated with a higher risk for adverse effects and poor birth outcomes. Specifically, maternal obesity may increase levels of adiposity in the foetus which may contribute to poorer metabolic health in the offspring. Jack-Roberts et al. (2017) investigated the effect of choline supplementation on lipid metabolism in pregnant mouse dams. It was shown that supplementation of choline in obese dams improved indices of foetal adiposity, probably due to changes in the expression of specific genes. The authors recommend further studies to elucidate all related mechanisms by which choline might affect foetal adiposity during periods of maternal high-fat feeding and obesity [34]. Although a statistically significant difference was not observed regarding GBMI and choline intake in the current study, there was a trend indicating that obese participants had higher choline intakes than other GBMI categories. It is likely that obese participants consumed a larger volume of food, and subsequently more choline, than others.

Stress and social support

Situations that can cause psychological stress were common in the participants. For example, approximately one in ten participants recently witnessed a violent crime or experienced physical abuse from their partner. Joblessness, death and unpayable debt in the household or family were also commonly reported. However, most participants did have a support system in place in the form of individuals they could ask for assistance or through their membership of a church or contacts with a social organisation. A large body of evidence suggests that maternal stress can have a profound influence on birth outcomes [35,36,37]. Women who experienced high levels of psychological and social stresses during pregnancy have been shown to be at higher risk of preterm delivery [38,39,40]. Prenatal stress exposure may also adversely affect short- and long-term foetal neurodevelopment. Hormonal and immune stress mediators play an important role in normal brain development and inappropriate levels of these mediators can negatively affect brain development [41]. Moreno Gudiño et al. (2017) demonstrated that choline supplementation in male rat pups attenuated the memory dysfunction provoked by stress caused by maternal separation during important developmental periods (post-natal days 1 to 14 and days 21 to 60). The authors propose the possibility of supplementing choline to stressed adolescents to mitigate the cognitive damage caused by stress in early life [42]. Conversely, van Lee et al. (2017) found that higher maternal plasma choline levels were associated with more symptoms related to anxiety and depression during pregnancy, but no association was found between maternal plasma choline and postnatal mental well-being [43]. More research is needed regarding the possible interactions between stress, choline intake, and foetal neurodevelopment.

Limitations

All data (except weight and height measurements) were self-reported. Convenient sampling was used instead of random sampling. The antenatal clinic where data were collected is considered a high-risk clinic, thus results cannot be generalised to low-risk pregnancies. However, participants in the current study reside in the same communities as other women with low-risk pregnancies who may be subjected to similar levels of stress and access to social support.

Conclusions and recommendations

Few participants consumed choline in amounts above the AI, which is a concerning finding, as the importance of choline during pregnancy is well established. The AI level can generally not be used to determine prevalence of deficiency in a population. However, if the intake is above the AI, prevalence of inadequate nutrient intakes is likely to be low. Alcohol use in this sample was relatively high. As choline supplementation has been shown to mitigate the effects of ethanol exposure on the foetus, it has been proposed that fortifying staple foods with choline might be a strategy to decrease the devastating effects of ethanol on the foetus [44]. This may be of benefit in a country such as South Africa that has very high levels of FASD. Hypertension was prevalent and the possible benefits of choline supplementation on hypertension management should be investigated. As it was found that participants who used ART were more likely to consume below adequate amounts of choline, use of ART, or HIV-infection, might be considered as a risk factor for a low choline intake. The median GBMI indicated that obesity is prevalent in the sample. Strategies to promote attaining a normal weight before conception require urgent attention, considering the various health risks associated with being overweight. Finally, pregnant women should be screened for psychological and social stress, and appropriate referrals and support provided in order to prevent short- and long-term adverse effects of maternal stress on their offspring.

Data Availability

The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Abbreviations

NuEMI study:

Nutritional status of Expectant Mothers and their newborn Infants study

AI:

adequate intake

ART:

anti-retroviral medications

NCD:

non-communicable disease

WHO:

World Health Organization

SADHS:

South African Health and Demographic Survey

HIV:

human immunodeficiency virus

ANC:

antenatal care

QFFQ:

quantitative food frequency questionnaire

SA-FCDB:

South African Food Composition Database

FAO:

food and agriculture organization

BTT:

Birth to Twenty study:GBMI:gestational body mass index

SD:

standard deviations

IQR:

interquartile range

CI:

confidence intervals

EAR:

estimated average requirement

IOM:

Institute of Medicine

NAM:

National Academy of Medicine

FASD:

foetal alcohol spectrum disorder

CVD:

cardiovascular disease

TMAO:

trimethylamine N-oxide

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the participants for taking part in this study and the fieldworkers for data collection.

Funding

The Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa, funded this research project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, internal box G24, 9300, Bloemfontein, Republic of South Africa

    Liska Robb, Elizabeth Margaretha Jordaan, Jennifer Ngounda & Corinna May Walsh

  2. Department of Biostatistics, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, Republic of South Africa

    Gina Joubert

Authors
  1. Liska Robb
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  2. Elizabeth Margaretha Jordaan
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  3. Gina Joubert
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  4. Jennifer Ngounda
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Contributions

LR and EMJ were both doctoral candidates promoted by CMW and GJ and were responsible for coding of dietary intake data. LR, GJ and CMW conceptualised the sub-study related to choline intake and the quantification of choline intake. GJ was responsible for statistical analysis of the data. JN assisted with quality assurance of data collection. All authors approved the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Liska Robb.

Ethics declarations

Ethics approval and consent to participate

Ethics approval was obtained from the Free State Department of Health and the Health Sciences Research Ethics Committee of the University of the Free State (UFS-HSD2018/0625/2603). Written informed consent was obtained from each participant after the information document was provided to participants in their language of choice (English, Afrikaans or Sesotho). Confidentiality of all information was assured by using respondent numbers and codes in data analysis and results. Participation was voluntary and participants were free to withdraw from the study at any time without negative consequences. Data collection was performed in accordance with the guidelines set by the Declaration of Helsinki.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Competing Interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Robb, L., Jordaan, E.M., Joubert, G. et al. Reported health, social support, stress and associations with choline intake in pregnant women in central South Africa: the NuEMI study 2018–2019. Arch Public Health 81, 48 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13690-023-01061-y

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Keywords

Archives of Public Health

ISSN: 2049-3258