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Maternal lean body mass may be the major determinant of birth weight: a study from India

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 60, pages 1341–1344 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

This study explored the relationship of maternal body composition parameters to the birth weight of the offspring. Maternal anthropometric parameters (weight, height) and body composition by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry were measured in 76 women from low-income group during 12–21 days postpartum. The mean±s.d. height, weight of the mothers and birth weight of the newborns were 151.5±5.29 cm, 46.7±6.04 and 2.84±0.358 kg, respectively. When the relationship of maternal anthropometric and body composition parameters to the infants' birth weight was studied, maternal lean body mass was found to be the most important determinant of birth weight (R2 (%)=21.3) (P<0.001). This study highlights the importance of increasing lean body mass in young women for better pregnancy outcome.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to place on record the support and encouragement of Dr B Sivakumar, Director, National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad. We are thankful to Mr AN Naidu, Deputy Director (Retired), National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, Professor K Ramachadran, Chennai and Dr AV Kurpad, Professor, St John's Medical College, Banglore, who reviewed the manuscript and gave valuable suggestions. We are also grateful to Ms Usha Rani, Mr Sambasiva Rao, Ms Prema Kumari, Ms Sundaramma and Ms Malini V Rao for their help during the course of the study. This study would not have been possible without the unstinted cooperation of the women who were the subjects of the study and we are grateful to them.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinical Division, National Institute of Nutrition (Indian Council of Medical Research), Jamai Osmania, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India

    B Kulkarni, V Shatrugna & N Balakrishna

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  1. B Kulkarni
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  2. V Shatrugna
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  3. N Balakrishna
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Correspondence to V Shatrugna.

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Guarantor: Dr V Shatrugna.

Contributors: BK and VS contributed to the study design, subject recruitment, interpretation of the results and manuscript preparation. NB carried out the statistical analysis of the data.

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Kulkarni, B., Shatrugna, V. & Balakrishna, N. Maternal lean body mass may be the major determinant of birth weight: a study from India. Eur J Clin Nutr 60, 1341–1344 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602461

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