(P27-077-25) Parents of Preterm Infants: Reported Diet Quality and Dietary Fatty Acid Intake in the First Month After Preterm Birth (PTB)

Objectives: To report correlation coefficients (r) for diet quality and dietary intake between lactating mothers (MOM) and coparents (COP) in the first month after PTB, with attention to dietary fatty acids (FA).

Methods: This is an interim analysis of a lactation-focused prospective cohort study enrolling 72 MOM and their preterm infants (PTI) hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit. Methods include 24-hour dietary recall via USDA 5-step Multi-Pass Method in lactation week 2 and 4 (W2, W4). COP can opt-in to provide diet recall. Interim analysis primary outcomes were the W2 and W4 Healthy Eating Index (HEI) total scores. Secondary outcomes included energy, macronutrients, and select n-6 and n-3 FA (total n-6 and n-3; linoleic (LA); eicosapentaeonic (EPA); docosahexaenoic (DHA)). Nutrient intake was adjusted for energy (per 1000kcal). Pearson’s or Spearman’s r were estimated, as appropriate; r < 0.4 was weak and r≥0.4 at least moderate correlation. Significance was p< 0.05.

Results: For 56 parents (28 dyads), correlation was not significant for HEI at W2 [mean (SD); MOM: 55 (16); COP: 53 (15); r=0.26] yet was at W4 [MOM: 60 (14); COP: 53 (14); r=0.55]. Energy intake by both parents appeared higher at W2 [MOM: 2016 (606) kcal/d; COP: 2054 (658)] than W4 [MOM: 1985 (518); COP: 1924 (669)]. Correlation for energy intake was significant yet weaker at W2 (r=0.39) than W4 (r=0.5). There were no significant correlations for % of energy as fat or carbohydrate at W2 or W4, or protein at W2; % of energy as protein correlated at W4 (r=0.55). Total and adjusted n-6 FA intake correlated at W2 and W4 (r=0.43-0.67). Total n-3 FA at W2 and W4 and adjusted at W4 correlated (r=0.43-0.69). Total and adjusted LA had at least moderate correlation at W2 and W4 (r=0.45-0.68). Total EPA intake at W4 showed correlation (r=0.51), but not at W2 or when adjusted for energy. Median DHA intake from food sources did not correlate between parents and was considerably lower than recommended at W2 (MOM: 0.03 g/d, IQR 0.00, 0.05; COP: 0.02 g/d, IQR 0.01, 0.04) and W4 (MOM and COP: 0.02 g/d, IQR 0.01, 0.06).

Conclusions: Correlations suggest increasing similarity in dietary intake for parents of PTI later compared to earlier in the first month after PTB. Findings may contribute to identifying opportunities to support parents of PTI in healthy eating, especially in improving n-3 FA intake.

Funding Sources: NICHD; FCHIP