Lawson Yolanda, Comerford Kevin B, Mitchell Edith P
FACOG, Associate Attending, Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States.
OMNI Nutrition Science, California Dairy Research Foundation, Davis, CA, United States.
J Natl Med Assoc. 2024 Apr;116(2 Pt 2):219-227. doi: 10.1016/j.jnma.2024.01.013. Epub 2024 Feb 16.
Pregnancy and lactation are special life stages that require regular nutritional and medical attention to help protect the health of the mother and promote the growth and development of the offspring. Despite an increased focus on maternal and fetal health over the last several decades, the rates of pregnancy-related morbidity and mortality are increasing in the United States (US). On average, Black women who are pregnant or lactating face greater health disparities and birth complications than other racial/ethnic groups in the US. The issues contributing to these disparities are multi-faceted and include sociocultural, economic, medical, and dietary factors. For example, Black women face greater rates of food insecurity, worse access to healthcare, and lower nutrient status when compared to White women. A growing body of research suggests that consuming a healthier dietary pattern is one of the most potent modifiable risk factors associated with improved fertility and reducing pregnancy-related complications. Recent publications have also shed light on the role of dairy foods in improving diet quality and nutrient status among Black women and for impacting maternal and fetal health outcomes, such as preeclampsia, spontaneous abortion, preterm birth, and fetal growth. To support healthy pregnancy and lactation, the current national dietary guidelines recommend the consumption of 3 servings of dairy foods per day. However, the vast majority of Black women in the US are falling short of these recommendations and are not meeting nutrient requirements for calcium and vitamin D. Therefore, strategies that target misconceptions surrounding lactose intolerance and focus on the health value of adequate dairy intake among Black women of child-bearing age may benefit both prenatal and postpartum health. This review presents the current evidence on health disparities faced by pregnant and lactating Black women in the US, and the role of dairy foods in supporting healthy pregnancy, fetal development, and lactation outcomes in this population.
怀孕和哺乳是特殊的生命阶段，需要定期的营养和医疗关注，以帮助保护母亲的健康并促进后代的生长发育。尽管在过去几十年中对孕产妇和胎儿健康的关注度有所提高，但美国与怀孕相关的发病率和死亡率却在上升。平均而言，怀孕或哺乳的黑人女性比美国其他种族/族裔群体面临更大的健康差距和分娩并发症。导致这些差距的问题是多方面的，包括社会文化、经济、医疗和饮食因素。例如，与白人女性相比，黑人女性面临更高的粮食不安全率、更难获得医疗保健服务以及更低的营养状况。越来越多的研究表明，采用更健康的饮食模式是与提高生育能力和减少怀孕相关并发症相关的最有力的可改变风险因素之一。最近的出版物也揭示了乳制品在改善黑人女性饮食质量和营养状况以及影响孕产妇和胎儿健康结果（如先兆子痫、自然流产、早产和胎儿生长）方面的作用。为了支持健康的怀孕和哺乳，目前的国家饮食指南建议每天食用3份乳制品。然而，美国绝大多数黑人女性未达到这些建议，也未满足钙和维生素D的营养需求。因此，针对围绕乳糖不耐受的误解并关注育龄黑人女性充足摄入乳制品的健康价值的策略可能有益于产前和产后健康。本综述介绍了美国怀孕和哺乳的黑人女性面临的健康差距的现有证据，以及乳制品在支持该人群健康怀孕、胎儿发育和哺乳结果方面的作用。
