American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 5, 62-69, Copyright © 1957 by The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc.

The Preconception Diet of Women Who Have Had Unsuccessful Pregnancies

¹ Professor of Nutrition and Chairman of Division, College of Home Economics, Syracuse University, Syracuse, N. Y.
² Formerly Nutritionist, Department of Health, Syracuse, N. Y.

A comparative study was made of the preconception dietary habits of 51 women who had had histories of habitual abortion, with those of a group of women who had successful pregnancies. In the groups studied the average dietary intake did not differ statistically, except in the case of thiamine. The average consumption of this nutrient was somewhat higher statistically, in the group of women having successful pregnancies. The average number of nutrients provided in adequate amounts in the individual diets of this group was also greater.

The women with histories of habitual abortion were classified into three groups on the basis of their average protein consumption. It was found that after attending the clinic the ratio of abortions to the number of pregnancies was lower for the group of women ingesting a "high" protein diet, which was also found to be generally excellent in other nutrients. It appears that women in a good nutritional state are more likely to respond to the over all management of habitual abortion than the more poorly nourished.