Browsing by study line "Ihmisen ravitsemus"

A healthy and balanced diet is essential for healthy growth and nutrition during childhood and youth has permanent and long-term effects for an individual’s health status. However, in contrast to other Nordic countries and most other European countries, there is no national data on adolescents’ food consumption and nutrient intake available in Finland. The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare conducted a pilot study on nutrition monitoring in adolescents during Autumn 2021. The study was conducted altogether in six schools in Helsinki and Tampere and the study group consisted of 110 ninth graders. The data on the adolescents’ food consumption and nutrient intake was collected with two 24-h dietary recalls. The first recall was conducted face to face and the second by phone. Based on this pilot study, the goal is to develop a national study protocol for examining the food consumption and nutrient intake of 12-18-year-old adolescents. The aim of this master’s thesis is to find out if the study protocol of the pilot study is suitable for a larger national study. In addition, the aim is to find out how was the food consumption and nutrient intake of the ninth graders from Helsinki and Tampere who participated in the study. The statistical tests and graphs were made using IBM SPSS Statistics 29 -software and Microsoft Excel - program. Non-parametric Mann-Whitney U -test was used to compare groups. The participation rate of the study was good. 73% of the invited adolescents participated in the first recall, from which 98% participated also in the second recall. Based on the results of this pilot study, 24-h dietary recalls conducted face to face and by phone are a practical and reliable study method when examining adolescents’ food consumption and nutrient intake. Adolescents’ mean intake of vegetables, fruits, berries, and dietary fibre was below the recommended amount, while the mean intake of salt and saturated fatty acids exceeded the recommended level. Based on the results, the study protocol is suitable for a larger national study. A national study is needed to better understand adolescents’ food consumption and nutrient intake from the point of view of health and environmental sustainability, and to see if there are differences by region, age, or sociodemographic factors. In addition, the national study would help to improve adolescents’ health and to prevent, for example, overweight, obesity and chronic diseases.

Good nutritional status contributes to health, functional capacity, and quality of life. The food provided to patients in hospitals is formulated to contribute to their recovery and is an integral part of their care. For nutritional care to be successful, it is important that patients eat the food they are offered, so both the food and the dining environment should be pleasing to patients. Personal habits have a big influence on what kind of food and eating situation each person finds pleasurable. The data analysed in this study were collected by interviewing patients. The interviews were conducted at a stage when the interviewees had at least two days of experience of patient dining. For this study, a thematic interview was chosen as the research method, as the phenomena and issues to be surveyed are not yet very well-known and the interviewees themselves wanted to be given the opportunity to raise issues that were relevant to them. The supervisors of this thesis were Heini Karp, PhD, licensed dietician, and Anu Joki, PhD. The interviews revealed that patients were quite satisfied with the hospital meals, both in terms of food and organisation. The size of portions was the single most important issue that all interviewees highlighted as a factor affecting satisfaction and which they would like to influence themselves. The interviews also showed that the possibility to make choices - even small ones - improves the dining experience in hospital. As there are already several portion sizes available and the aim is to provide the right size portion for each patient, changes to these practices could be implemented relatively easily and at low cost. A typical way to find out patients' satisfaction with hospital food is through form-based surveys. They may not reveal all the underlying reasons for the results obtained, making it difficult to correct the situation and improve hospital catering based on the results. Interview-based research on patient satisfaction with the food service experience is relatively scarce. More research would be needed to assess the transferability of the results. In particular, there is a need for a study that takes into account the age distribution and the different needs of patients of different ages.

Background. The interest in plant-based protein sources has increased due to environmental and health concerns. The ScenoProt intervention study was a 12-week controlled study consisting of three different omnivorous diet groups. Study group’s diets ANIMAL, 50/50 and PLANT consisted of 30%, 50% and 70% plant-based protein, respectively, with rest of the protein coming from animal-based sources. Objectives. The aim of this study was to see whether amino acid intakes differed between the diets and whether the indispensable amino acid requirements were met. The focus was to concentrate on studying the amino acids that were most limited in comparison to the requirement levels in the most plant-based group. Also, the main sources of amino acids were analysed from different food categories. Materials and methods. The ScenoProt randomised controlled intervention was performed in spring 2017. Altogether 136 healthy adult participants completed the 12-week study. Meat and dairy were partly replaced with cereals, nuts, seeds, and legumes in the PLANT and 50/50 groups. Fish and eggs were provided with equal amounts in each group. Amino acid compositions of food items were provided from different databases and combined with 4-day food records from the baseline and the end of the 12-week intervention. Differences between the diets were analysed with ANOVA. The amino acid sources were calculated from 17 different categories. Results. The intakes of protein and indispensable amino acids were highest in the ANIMAL group compared to the PLANT group (P<0.01). The requirements of indispensable amino acids were met, apart from the methionine intake in two participants (5%) in the PLANT group, who also had protein intake below the safe intake level. In the PLANT group, cereals became the main source of protein and all amino acids, and legumes the main source of lysine, whereas in the ANIMAL, meat was the main source of protein, methionine, lysine, and threonine, and milk the main source of valine and leucine. Considering all indispensable amino acids, the intake of valine in the ANIMAL and methionine in the PLANT and 50/50 groups were closest to the reference value. Conclusions. When plant-based protein sources were increased with the expense of animal-based sources, the main sources of protein and amino acids changed, but the sufficient indispensable amino acid intakes were mostly met. The sufficient protein intake could be considered somewhat more carefully in diets resembling Planetary Health diet to ensure methionine requirement. As the indispensable amino acid requirements were met in all the study diets when protein intake was above the safe intake level (0.83 g/kg), it is safe to replace animal-based sources with more plant-based sources.

Tiedekunta/Osasto: Maatalous-metsätieteellinen tiedekunta Laitos: Elintarvike- ja ravitsemustieteiden osasto Tekijä: Sini Maria Närvä Työn nimi: Punaisen ja prosessoidun lihan osittainen korvaaminen palkokasveilla: vaikutus veren rasva-arvoihin ja kehonkoostumukseen terveillä työikäisillä suomalaisilla miehillä Oppiaine: Ihmisen ravitsemus- ja ruokakäyttäytyminen (Opintosuunta: Ihmisen ravitsemus) Työn laji: Maisterintutkielma Aika: Huhtikuu 2021 Sivumäärä: 63 sivua + 1 liite Tiivistelmä: Tausta: Sydän- ja verisuonitaudit (SVT) ovat merkittävin syy sairastuvuuteen ja kuolleisuuteen länsimaissa. SVT:n riskitekijöitä ovat ruokavalion rasvan laatu, veren korkea kolesterolipitoisuus (erityisesti LDL-kolesteroli), ylipaino, tupakointi, diabetes ja kohonnut verenpaine. Miehillä riski sairastua SVT:hin on naisia suurempi. Lisäksi miesten ruokavalio on usein laadultaan naisia heikompi, ja miesten punaisen ja prosessoidun lihan kulutus on liian runsasta suosituksiin nähden. Korvaamalla eläinperäisiä proteiinin lähteitä kasviperäisillä lähteillä voidaan vaikuttaa suotuisasti sydän- ja verisuonitautien riskitekijöihin. Tavoite: Työn tavoitteena oli tutkia, onko veren rasva-arvoissa, kehon painossa ja kehonkoostumuksessa eroja, kun ruokavalion punaista ja prosessoitua lihaa korvataan osittain ei-soijaperäisillä palkokasveilla. Tutkimushypoteesina oli, että punaisen ja prosessoidun lihan korvaaminen osittain palkokasveilla pienentää kokonais- ja LDL-kolesterolipitoisuutta sekä kehon painoa ja rasvamassaa. Menetelmät: Tässä tutkimuksessa käytettiin Papumies-interventiotutkimuksen aineistoa. Tutkittavat olivat 20-65-vuotiaita terveitä suomalaisia miehiä (n=102). Heidät satunnaistettiin kahteen eri interventioryhmään kuuden viikon ajaksi. Toinen ryhmä (liharyhmä) sai punaista ja prosessoitua lihaa ja niistä valmistettuja tuotteita 760 g/vko (25 % päivittäisestä proteiinin saannista). Toinen ryhmä (palkokasviryhmä) sai palkokasveja ja palkokasvituotteita (pääosin herneitä ja härkäpapuja) 20 % päivittäisestä proteiinin saannista sekä punaista ja prosessoitua lihaa 200 g/vko (5 % päivittäisestä proteiinin saannista). Ennen intervention alkua ja sen lopussa kerätystä paastoverinäytteestä analysoitiin kokonais-, HDL- ja LDL-kolesteroli sekä triglyseridipitoisuudet, ja lisäksi mitattiin tutkittavien pituus, paino, vyötärön- ja lantionympärys sekä kehonkoostumus. Ryhmien välisiä eroja näissä muuttujissa intervention loppupisteessä tutkittiin kovarianssianalyysillä käyttäen alkupisteen arvoja kovariaatteina. Tulokset: Alkupisteessä ryhmien välillä ei ollut eroa kolesterolipitoisuuksissa (pois lukien HDL-kolesteroli), painossa, vyötärön- ja lantionympäryksessä tai kehonkoostumuksessa. Intervention lopussa plasman kokonais- ja LDL-kolesterolipitoisuudet (p<0,001 ja p=0,001), kehon paino ja painoindeksi (p=0,031 molemmissa) olivat pienemmät ja HDL-kolesterolipitoisuus suurempi (p=0,030) palkokasvi-ryhmässä liharyhmään verrattuna. Triglyseridipitoisuudessa, vyötärönympäryksessä, vyötärö-lantio-suhteessa, rasvaprosentissa, rasvamassassa, rasvattomassa massassa tai rasvamassan ja rasvattoman massan indeksissä ei havaittu eroja ryhmien välillä intervention lopussa (p>0,05). Johtopäätökset: Punaisen ja prosessoidun lihan osittainen korvaaminen ei-soijaperäisillä palkokasveilla kuuden viikon ajan paransi veren rasva-arvoja ja vähensi painoa terveillä työikäisillä miehillä, mikä viittaa sydän- ja verisuonitautiriskin pienemiseen. Tätä tietoa voidaan hyödyntää suunniteltaessa toimenpiteitä terveellisemmän ja ympäristön kannalta kestävämmän ruokavaliosuosituksen laatimisessa väestötasolla. Avainsanat – Nyckelord – Keywords: Ravitsemus, ei-soijaperäiset palkokasvit, punainen liha, plasman lipidit, sydän- ja verisuonitaudit Säilytyspaikka – Förvaringställe – Where deposited: Maatalous-metsätieteellinen tiedekunta, Elintarvike- ja ravitsemustieteiden osasto, Helsingin yliopisto Muita tietoja – Övriga uppgifter – Additional information: Ohjaajat: Suvi Itkonen, ETT, dosentti; Anne-Maria Pajari, apulaisprofessori

Johdanto: Fitnessurheilijoiden kilpailuihin valmistavan kausi kestää noin 2–6kk, jonka aikana he pyrkivät vähentämään kehon rasvamassan määrää ja ylläpitämään lihasmassaa. Ravitsemuksella on merkittävä rooli paitsi näiden kehonkoostumustavoitteiden saavuttamisessa myös urheilijan terveyden ja hyvinvoinnin ylläpitämisessä. Pitkään jatkuva energiavajeen seurauksena elimistö pyrkii saavuttamaan uuden homeostasian vähentämällä energiankulutusta muun muassa kilpirauhashormonipitoisuuksia säätelemällä. Tavoitteet: Tämän tutkimuksen tavoitteena oli tarkastella fitnessurheilijoiden ravinnon saantia ja kehonkoostumuksen muutoksia kilpailuihin valmistavalla kaudella sekä siitä palauttavalla kaudella. Lisäksi tarkasteltiin kilpailuihin valmistavan kauden vaikutusta kilpirauhashormonipitoisuuksiin. Menetelmät: Tutkimuksessa seurattiin 9 nais- ja 12 mieskilpailijan valmistautumista syksyn 2019 suomenmestaruuskilpailuihin. Heidän kilpailuihin valmistava kausi kesti keskimäärin 21 viikkoa, jota seurasi keskimäärin yhtä pitkä palauttava kausi. Verrokkiryhmässä oli 22 tavoitteellisesti harjoittelevaa miestä ja naista, jotka eivät laihduttaneet. Tutkittavilta mitattiin veren kilpirauhashormonipitoisuudet (T3 ja T4) ja kehonkoostumus (DXA) ennen kilpailuihin valmistavan kauden alkua, sen lopussa sekä 21 viikon palauttavan kauden jälkeen. Lisäksi tutkittavat täyttivät ruokapäiväkirjaa, jonka avulla arvioitiin energian- ja ravintoaineiden saantia. Ryhmien väliseen vertailuun käytettiin riippumattomien otosten t-testiä ja ajallisia muutoksia arvioitiin toistomittausten varianssianalyysillä. Lineaarisella regressioanalyysillä arvioitiin kilpailuihin valmistavan kauden lopun T3-pitoisuuksiin vaikuttavia tekijöitä. Tulokset: Kilpailuihin valmistavan kauden aikana tutkittavien energian- ja hiilihydraattien saanti sekä rasvamassan määrä ja T3-pitoisuudet laskivat merkittävästi (p-arvot <0,001). Kaikki arvot palautuivat keskimäärin ennalleen palauttavan kauden aikana rasvamassan nousun myötä. Regressioanalyysi osoitti, että kilpailukauden lopun T3-pitoisuutta selitti vahvimmin rasvamassan määrä (p-arvo <0,001). Lisäksi hiilihydraattien osuus oli naisilla, mutta ei miehillä, merkittävä tekijä (p-arvo 0,002). Johtopäätökset: Kilpailuissa vaaditun kehonkoostumuksen saavuttaminen tapahtui energian ja hiilihydraattien saannin laskemisella alle urheilijoille laadittujen suositusten. Painonpudotuksen myötä myös T3-pitoisuudet laskivat merkitsevästi. Hormonipitoisuudet näyttävät kuitenkin palautuvan 21 viikkoa kestäneen palauttavan kauden aikana, kun kehon rasvamassa palautuu lähtötasolle.

There are only few studies about diet of food pantry recipients or quality of their diet. Previous studies have found out that food pantry recipients are elder, more disadvantaged and in lower socioeconomic status compared to general population. The aim of this study was to find out from which food groups the daily diet of food pantry recipients consisted, do there exist different dietary patterns among the food pantry recipients, and are sociodemographic factors, experienced wealth and vulnerability associated with the diet. In addition, experiences about convenience of food donated in food aid for cooking and possibilities to prepare warm meals among food pantry recipients, and association between convenience, possibilities and diet, were studied. This study was a cross-sectional study and the data consisted of participants in the project called From food pantry to participation (Ruokajonosta osallisuuteen -hanke). Diet was studied by using the Diet and lifestyle questionnaire form that included 7-sections - food frequency questionnaire. Closed questions were applied to study experiences about convenience of food donated in food aid, possibilities to prepare meal and economic situation. T-tests and variance analysis were used to study differences between the groups, and regression analysis were used to study associations between diet and background factors. Principal component analysis was used to detect dietary patterns. The study population consisted of 137 participants from different parts of Finland. 114 participants were included in the final analysis. 45 % were men and 78 % were retired. There was a need for improvements in the diet. Less than half of the participants consumed vegetables, berries and fruits daily. Dairy products, dietary fats and grains were eaten daily by every third. 58 % ate fish 1–2 times per week. Eggs and meat were eaten 3–5 times per week by 33 %, and daily by 23 % respectively. 53 % of food pantry recipients felt that food donated in food aid was convenient for cooking. 83 % cooked often or quite often. In this study two dietary patterns were detected; traditional dietary pattern and vegetable-fish -based dietary pattern. The most strongly loaded food groups in the traditional dietary pattern were grains, dairy products, dietary fats, and meat and eggs. Fruits, berries, vegetables and fish were most strongly loaded in the vegetable-fish -based dietary pattern. There was one group that preferred vegetable-fish -based dietary pattern. Factors positively associated with the dietary patterns in this group were older age, female sex, living in an owner-occupied flat, experienced good wealth and low vulnerability, non-smoking and low consumption of alcohol. Convenience of food donated in food aid for cooking and possibilities to prepare a warm meal were not significantly associated with the dietary patterns. The study population represented general food pantry recipients. However, the results cannot be generalized as the population was small. The study indicates that the diet of food pantry recipients needs improvements, and there exist groups with different eating patterns among them. More research is needed to find out if there was an association between the diet of food pantry recipients and the way food aid was implemented in practice. Diet should be studied more precisely in the following studies. Young people and persons having risk of exclusion, and consequences of COVID-19 pandemic for food aid work and food pantry recipients should be studied also.

Background: Different protein sources can have a major impact on not only our health, but also on the environment. We also know that dietary habits learned in early childhood often carry into adulthood. A novel way to examine dietary and purchase behaviour is using loyalty card data. This thesis utilises loyalty card complied by the LoCard research group from Finland’s largest grocery chain (S-group) in assessing the protein source purchases made by Finnish families with children in 2018. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to examine what protein sources Finnish families with chil- dren purchase, and to assess whether relationships exist between different sociodemographic factors and protein source purchases, as well as the amount of money used on food purchases overall in 2018. Methods: This study utilised data from the LoCard data set which included food purchase data, as well as information on sociodemographic factors obtained from a background questionnaire. Inclusion criteria stated that self-assessed loyalty score (to S-group stores) had to be >60% to be included into this study, and the main study population could only include families with at least 1 child under 7-years of age. Overall, 7807 participants’ purchase data was received from LoCard, with 3904 being households with young children, and 3903 being control households. The statistical analysis methods utilised in this thesis study included linear regression analyses, as well as the independent samples Mann-Whitney U-test and chi-squared test. Results: Statistically significant findings included the following; Finnish families with small children had a larger share of their total protein purchases coming from dairy (30.4% of total protein), red meat (16.9%), and infant formula (0.3%), but less from plant-based protein sources (2%) compared to the control group (2.5%). In terms of sociodemographic factors, increase in household size, age and being employed were associated with increased proportion of protein from red meat purchases. Increase in educational level was associated with less protein from red meat purchases. For poultry, increase in age was associated with decreased protein from purchases. For plant-based protein sources, having an undergraduate degree or higher level of education, as well as being unemployed were associated with increased proportion of protein from purchases. Being in the highest income category and increase in age and household size were associated with decreased protein from plant-based protein source purchases. For protein coming from fish, increase in income category as well as age and having a graduate degree were associated with increased proportion of protein. Increase in household size and being employed were associated with decreased protein proportions. In terms of the money used on all food purchases, families with small children spent less money, as well as those with graduate degrees. Increase in income category, as well as in age and household size were associated with more money spent on food purchases. Conclusions: The main protein sources purchased by Finnish families with small children were dairy and red meat. Fish and plant-based protein source purchases were relatively low. Existing research is well in line with the findings of this thesis. More work needs to be done to shift diets of families with small children to adhere to the dietary guidelines more closely. Future LoCard research should include specific ages of other household members in the background questionnaire, as well as work on acquiring purchase data from other grocery chains.

Tiivistelmä Tausta: Ruoankäytön ja ravinnonsaannin sukupuolieroja on nähtävissä jo nuorilla lapsilla. Muun ruokaan liittyvän käyttäytymisen sukupuolieroista lapsilla on vasta vähän tutkimusta. Uusi ruokaymmärryksen ja ‑kiinnostuksen (food engagement) käsite pyrkii kuvaamaan monipuolisesti erilaisia tapoja olla kosketuksissa ruokaan ja ruokajärjestelmään arjen käyttäytymisen kautta. Tavoitteet: Tämän tutkimuksen tarkoitus oli kartoittaa lasten ruokaymmärryksen ja ‑kiinnostuksen sukupuolieroja Suomessa ja Puolassa. Lisäksi tässä tutkimuksessa tutkittiin uuden ruokaymmärryksen ja ‑kiinnostuksen mittarin rakennevaliditeettia. Menetelmät: Tutkimuksessa käytetty aineisto on peräisin EIT Food WeValueFood -konsortiohankkeen tutkimuksesta. Aineisto kerättiin Suomessa ja Puolassa syksyllä 2020. Tässä tutkimuksessa käytettiin tutkimuksen alkuvaiheessa kerättyä aineistoa poikkileikkausasetelmassa. Tutkittavat olivat 9–11-vuotiaita lapsia (n = 165). Ruokaymmärryksen ja ‑kiinnostuksen mittarin rakennevaliditeettia tutkittiin eksploratiivisella faktorianalyysillä. Sukupuolen ja ruokaymmärryksen ja ‑kiinnostuksen pisteiden yhteyksiä mallinnettiin lineaarisella regressioanalyysillä. Sukupuolieroja vastauksissa mittarin yksittäisiin kysymyksiin tutkittiin ristiintaulukoinnilla ja Khiin neliö -testillä. Tulokset: Suurimman osan (23 %) ruokaymmärryksen ja ‑kiinnostuksen pisteiden vaihtelusta selittivät mittarissa ennalta määritellyn ruokaviestinnän osion kysymykset (ruoasta lukeminen, ruoasta puhuminen sekä ruoka-aiheisten ohjelmien ja videoiden seuraaminen). Tiettyjen kysymysten poistaminen vahvisti mittarin sisäistä yhtenäisyyttä. Sukupuolten välillä ei ollut eroa ruokaymmärryksen ja -kiinnostuksen pisteissä, kun tarkasteltiin koko aineistoa erilaisissa regressiomalleissa. Suomalaisilla tutkittavilla sukupuolten välillä havaittiin tilastollisesti merkitsevä piste-ero vakioimattomassa regressiomallissa (p = 0,015): tyttöjen pisteet olivat keskimäärin 6 prosenttiyksikköä poikien pisteitä korkeammat (tytöt 48 % ja pojat 42 %). Ero ei ollut tilastollisesti merkitsevä monimuuttujamallissa. Puolalaisilla tutkittavilla sukupuolten välillä ei ollut tilastollisesti merkitsevää eroa missään regressiomallissa. Kysymyskohtaisia tilastollisesti merkitseviä sukupuolieroja havaittiin koko aineistossa sekä erikseen Suomen osa-aineistossa. Puolan osa-aineistossa ei havaittu tilastollisesti merkitseviä eroja sukupuolten välillä. Johtopäätökset: Tämän tutkimuksen perusteella lasten ruokaymmärryksen ja -kiinnostuksen mittari on potentiaalinen työkalu kuvaamaan, kuinka monipuolisesti lapsi on arjessaan tekemisissä ruoan kanssa, mutta sen rakenne vaatii vielä lisätutkimusta. Tämä tutkimus antoi viitteitä siitä, että vaikka tyttöjen ja poikien ruokaymmärryksen ja ‑kiinnostuksen tasossa ei olisi suuria eroja, tavat olla tekemisissä ruoan kanssa saattavat kuitenkin olla erilaisia

We assessed the association between hair cortisol concentration (HCC), a biomarker for long-term stress, and pre-schoolers’ diet on the macronutrient level in this cross-sectional study. The data was collected in 2015-16 from a population of 655 Finnish children of ages 3-6 years. Hair samples of 2cm from the scalp were collected to represent the HCC from the past two months. Macronutrient intake was examined using food diaries filled out by the parents and Early childhood education and Care (ECEC) on behalf of the pre-schoolers. For the socioeconomic status (SES) the parents reported their highest education level reached and family income. We evaluated the association between the pre-schoolers’ HCC and energy percentage (E%) macronutrient intake with univariate and multiple linear regression models. We evaluated three models which we adjusted for varying confounders; Model 1 had no adjustments, model 2 was adjusted with the ISO BMI and energy intake (KJ) and Model 3 had further adjustments with the highest education level and the relative household monthly income. There was no association found between the pre-schoolers’ HCC and macronutrient intake. Our results are in line with a previous study which also assessed the association between HCC and macronutrient intake in E% but not in g/day. Further studies are needed to gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between HCC and macronutrient intake in young children.

Background and aim Complementary feeding is defined as the period during which there is a progressive reduction of breastfeeding or formula while the infant is gradually introduced to solid foods at 4-6 months of age. Improper complementary feeding practices, such as introducing solid foods beyond 6 months of age or having a low dietary diversity could lead to negative infant health outcomes. Therefore, it is important to identify factors that might detrimentally affect complementary feeding, such as maternal stress. This thesis aimed to study the associations between maternal stress indicators, the age of solid food introduction, and dietary diversity during complementary feeding within a Finnish birth cohort. Methods The Health and Early Life Microbiota (HELMi) is a longitudinal birth cohort study. Participants of the HELMi cohort included 1055 healthy infants and their parents, mainly residing in the capital region of Finland. Pre-collected data from the HELMi study were used. The data collection occurred between 2016-2018. The main variables used in this thesis were collected via extensive online questionnaires. Binomial logistic regression analyses were used to study whether prenatal and postpartum stress indicators were associated with the age of solid food introduction and/or the infant’s dietary diversity during complementary feeding. Results Late introduction of solid foods (> 6 months) was less likely among infants whose mothers reported moderate or high prenatal stress (moderate prenatal stress OR=0.66, 95%CI 0.45-0.97, high prenatal stress OR 0.62, 95%CI 0.39-0.98), when compared to infants whose mothers reported low prenatal stress. Maternal stress indicators were not associated with low dietary diversity (0-3 food groups introduced) at 6 months of life. Among infants with a low dietary diversity at 9 months of age, mothers were more likely to report high levels of prenatal stress (OR=4.88, 95%CI 1.27-18.79), when compared to mothers with low levels of prenatal stress. Further, infants with a low dietary diversity at 9 months were less likely to have mothers report low to moderate levels of life satisfaction (OR=0.25, 95%CI 0.06-1.02) when compared to mothers with very high life satisfaction. They were also less likely to report moderate levels of infant health worry (OR=0.18, 95%CI 0.05-0.67) when compared to mothers with no infant health worry. Conclusions This is the first study to look at the associations between maternal stress indicators and dietary outcomes during complementary feeding. Maternal stress indicators were associated with the age of solid food introduction and the infant’s dietary diversity at 9 months, but not at 6 months. In future studies on this topic, a more socio-demographically representative sample should be recruited, and validated tools should be used to collect dietary and psychological data. Health practitioners and family clinic workers should be made aware of the possibly long-lasting effects of prenatal stress and consider its possible effects on dietary outcomes during complementary feeding.