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Pulque intake during pregnancy and lactation in rural Mexico: alcohol and child growth from 1 to 57 months

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 58, pages 1626–1634 (2004)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective: To examine maternal intake of a mildly alcoholic beverage (pulque) during pregnancy and lactation, and its potential effect on postpartum child growth and attained size.

Design: A prospective cohort study that followed mothers (during pregnancy and lactation) and their offspring (from birth to approximately 57 months of age).

Setting: Six villages in rural, central Mexico.

Subjects: Subjects are 58 mother–child pairs. Pulque intake was measured as part of a dietary assessment that was conducted for 2days/month during pregnancy and early lactation.

Results: Most mothers consumed pulque during pregnancy (69.0%) and lactation (72.4%). Among pulque drinkers, the average ethanol intake was 125.1 g/week during pregnancy and 113.8 g/week during lactation. Greater pulque intake during lactation, independent of intake during pregnancy, was associated with slower weight and linear growth from 1 to 57 months, and smaller attained size at 57 months. Low-to-moderate pulque intake during pregnancy, in comparison to either nonconsumption or heavy intake, was also associated with greater stature at 57 months.

Conclusions: Pulque intake during lactation may have adversely influenced postnatal growth in this population. Public health interventions are urgently needed in Mexico to reduce heavy intake of pulque by pregnant and lactating women, and to replace intake with foods that provide the vitamins and minerals present in the traditional alcoholic beverage.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported in part by US Agency for International Development Grants DAN-1309-G-SS-1070 and DAN-1309-A-00-9090-00 and also NIH Grant R15 DEO9863.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Joint PhD Program in Urban Systems, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, USA

    J R Backstrand

  2. School of Natural Science, Hampshire College, Amherst, MA, USA

    A H Goodman

  3. Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, CA, USA

    L H Allen

  4. Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA

    G H Pelto

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  1. J R Backstrand
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  2. A H Goodman
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  3. L H Allen
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  4. G H Pelto
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Contributions

Guarantor: JR Backstrand.

Contributors: JRB conceived and prepared the manuscript, conducted all data analyses, participated in the instrument design, and supervised data management activities. The original Mexico NCRSP project was designed and supervised by LHA and GHP. The followup study was designed and supervised by AHG.

Disclaimers: None

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Correspondence to J R Backstrand.

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Backstrand, J., Goodman, A., Allen, L. et al. Pulque intake during pregnancy and lactation in rural Mexico: alcohol and child growth from 1 to 57 months. Eur J Clin Nutr 58, 1626–1634 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602019

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