101. Intake of tapwater and total water by pregnant and lactating women
- Author
-
Ershow, Abby G., Brown, Linda M., and Cantor, Kenneth P.
- Subjects
Drinking water -- Health aspects ,Pregnancy -- Health aspects ,Water consumption -- Measurement ,Lactation -- Health aspects ,Government ,Health care industry - Abstract
Background. Despite theoretically higher requirements for water due to physiologic demands of pregnancy and lactation, little is known of actual ranges of intake in pregnant and lactating women. Methods. Population-based estimates of total water and tapwater intake in women of reproductive age were derived using data from the 1977-78 USDA Nationwide Food Consumption Survey. Three-day average intakes were calculated for 188 pregnant women, 77 lactating women, and 6,201 non-pregnant, non-lactating control women. Results. Total water intake (mean [+ or -] SD) was 1,940 [+ or -] 686 g/day (median 1,835) for control women, 2,076 [+ or -] 743 g/day (median 1,928) for pregnant women and 2,242 [+ or -] 658 g/day (median 2,164) for lactating women. Tapwater intake was 1,157 [+ or -] 635 g/day (median 1,065) for control women, 1,189 [+ or -] 699 g/day (median 1,063) for pregnant women, and 1,310 [+ or -] 591 g/day (median 1,330) for lactating women. Total water intake was equal to or greater than 3,000 g/day among 7 percent of control women, 11 percent of pregnant women, and 13 percent of lactating women. Tapwater intake was equal to or greater than 2,000 g/day among 10 percent of control women, 15 percent of pregnant women, and 8 percent of lactating women. Conclusions. These results should be useful in estimating amounts of nutrients and toxic substances that women of reproductive age obtain through the water supply. (Am J Public Health 1991;81:328-334), Drinking water can be a source of nutrients, such as calcium, and can also contain harmful substances; thus when it is ingested by pregnant or lactating women, it can affect the child's health. Yet little is known concerning the amount of water actually consumed by women during these periods. To learn more about this issue, data from a US Department of Agriculture dietary survey were analyzed to arrive at estimates of the amount and source of tapwater and total water consumed by pregnant, lactating, and non-pregnant non-lactating women. The survey included seven-day household food use, food purchase records, and food diaries; of the 30,770 people who participated, 77 were nursing mothers and 188 were pregnant women (at least four months pregnant). Control subjects were 6,201 women who were not lactating or pregnant and were aged 15 to 49 (the age range of the lactating and pregnant group). The amounts of drinking water consumed (water consumed as a beverage), tapwater (drinking water plus water added in food preparation), and total water (from tapwater and non-tapwater sources, including food), were calculated for the subjects. The quantities of tapwater and total water ingested by women in all four groups are presented. Amounts for total water intake per day averaged 1,940 grams for controls, 2,076 grams for pregnant women, and 2,242 grams for lactating women. Total water intake was equal to or greater than 3,000 grams per day for 7 percent of the controls, 11 percent of pregnant women, and 13 percent of those who were lactating. The results represent the first survey of water consumption among pregnant and lactating women, and should be useful if the toxicity or nutrient value of ingested water needs to be determined. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.) more...
- Published
- 1991