Table 2.
Age- and multivariable-adjusted Alternate Healthy Eating Index for Pregnancy (AHEI-P) total and component scores by income and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) participation status of participants in the Infant Feeding Practices Study II
| AHEI-P total and component scores* | Age-adjusted model (n 1284) | Multivariable-adjusted model (n 268)† | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WIC participant‡ | Low-income§ | Middle-income‖ | High-income¶ | WIC participant | Low-income | Middle-income | High-income | |||||||||
| Mean | se | Mean | se | Mean | se | Mean | se | Mean | se | Mean | se | Mean | se | Mean | se | |
| Total score | 60·7a | 0·6 | 60·8a | 0·7 | 61·8a,b | 0·5 | 63·8b | 0·7 | 58·3a | 0·8 | 58·9a | 0·9 | 60·1a | 0·8 | 62·4b | 1·0 |
| Vegetables | 5·6 | 0·2 | 5·3 | 0·2 | 5·1 | 0·1 | 5·2 | 0·2 | 5·3 | 0·2 | 5·2 | 0·2 | 5·1 | 0·2 | 5·3 | 0·2 |
| Whole fruit | 3·7a,b | 0·1 | 3·5a | 0·2 | 3·7a | 0·1 | 4·3b | 0·2 | 3·5a | 0·2 | 3·4a | 0·2 | 3·7a | 0·2 | 4·4b | 0·2 |
| Whole grains | 2·6 | 0·1 | 2·8 | 0·1 | 2·8 | 0·1 | 2·7 | 0·1 | 2·2 | 0·1 | 2·5 | 0·1 | 2·5 | 0·1 | 2·4 | 0·1 |
| Sugar-sweetened beverages** | 1·4a | 0·2 | 1·8a,b | 0·2 | 2·3b | 0·2 | 3·0c | 0·2 | 1·2a | 0·2 | 1·4a | 0·3 | 1·8a,b | 0·3 | 2·4b | 0·3 |
| Nuts and legumes | 2·6 | 0·1 | 2·5 | 0·1 | 2·7 | 0·1 | 2·6 | 0·2 | 2·0 | 0·2 | 2·0 | 0·2 | 2·4 | 0·2 | 2·3 | 0·2 |
| Red and processed meat | 4·1a | 0·2 | 4·6a,b | 0·2 | 4·8b | 0·1 | 5·6c | 0·2 | 4·1a | 0·2 | 4·4a | 0·2 | 4·4a | 0·2 | 5·0b | 0·3 |
| Trans-fat | 4·9a,b | 0·1 | 4·6a | 0·1 | 4·8a | 0·1 | 5·1b | 0·1 | 4·9a,b | 0·1 | 4·6a | 0·1 | 4·8a | 0·1 | 5·2b | 0·1 |
| Long-chain fatty acids | 2·5 | 0·1 | 2·8 | 0·1 | 2·5 | 0·1 | 2·5 | 0·2 | 2·6 | 0·2 | 2·9 | 0·2 | 2·8 | 0·2 | 2·8 | 0·2 |
| PUFA | 6·4 | 0·1 | 6·6 | 0·1 | 6·5 | 0·1 | 6·5 | 0·1 | 6·5 | 0·1 | 6·7 | 0·2 | 6·6 | 0·1 | 6·5 | 0·2 |
| Sodium | 4·4a | 0·2 | 4·8a,b | 0·2 | 5·2b,c | 0·2 | 5·7c | 0·2 | 5·2 | 0·1 | 5·1 | 0·2 | 5·2 | 0·1 | 5·4 | 0·2 |
| Iron | 6·6a | 0·1 | 6·3a,b | 0·1 | 6·2a,b | 0·1 | 5·9b | 0·1 | 6·1 | 0·1 | 6·1 | 0·1 | 6·1 | 0·1 | 6·0 | 0·1 |
| Folate | 7·0a | 0·1 | 6·7a,b | 0·1 | 6·6a,b | 0·1 | 6·4b | 0·1 | 6·5 | 0·1 | 6·6 | 0·1 | 6·6 | 0·1 | 6·6 | 0·1 |
| Calcium | 8·8 | 0·1 | 8·5 | 0·1 | 8·5 | 0·1 | 8·5 | 0·1 | 8·1 | 0·1 | 8·0 | 0·1 | 8·0 | 0·1 | 8·2 | 0·2 |
Missing data were present among race (n 46), socio-economic status (n 38) and smoking (n 42). Of the 1444 participants who completed the prenatal Diet History Questionnaire, 121 were excluded for implausible energy intake and one was excluded for implausible BMI.
a,b,cMean values within a row for each model with unlike superscript letters were significantly different in Tukey-adjusted post hoc differences between groups (P < 0·05).
Higher scores indicate better adherence to dietary recommendations. Total scores are out of 130 points and all components are out of 10 points. Inverse scoring (where lower consumption equates to a higher score) was used for the following categories: sugar-sweetened beverages (and fruit juice), red and processed meat, trans-fat and sodium.
The multivariable-adjusted model was adjusted for age, smoking, race and energy intake.
The mother participated in WIC during pregnancy (n 366).
Poverty income ratio ≤1·85 (WIC income-eligible) and not participating in WIC during pregnancy (n 240).
Poverty income ratio of >1·85 but <4 (n 451).
Poverty income ratio ≥4 (n 227).
Sugar-sweetened beverages includes fruit juice.