Abstract
This study explores the relationship between maternal cigarette smoking and body composition of the newborn as reflected by anthropometric indices of subcutaneous fat and lean body mass.
Subjects were 285 healthy, singleton, Caucasian, term infants whose mothers were either smokers (N=109, smoked before and during pregnancy) or nonsmokers (N=176, smoked neither before or during pregnancy). Mothers who smoked were younger (mean 22 vs 24 years, p<.05) but did not differ from nonsmokers in parity, height, prepregnant weight, weight gain in pregnancy, or length of gestation.
Infants of smokers were 235 gm lighter (p<.001), 1 cm shorter (p<.001), and had smaller head circumferences (p<.05), arm circumferences (p<.001), and arm circumference/head circumference ratios (p<.01). Ponderal indices were similar. Calculated cross-sectional nonfat areas of the upper arm were also reduced (p<.001). Maternal smoking did not affect in utero fat deposition, as estimated by the cross-sectional fat area of the upper arm and biceps, triceps, subscapular, and abdominal skinfold thickness measurements.
We conclude that the reduction in birthweight associated with maternal smoking is primarily a reduction in lean body mass.
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Harrison, G., Vaucher, Y., Branson, R. et al. 1320 MATERNAL SMOKING AND BODY COMPOSITION IN THE NEWBORN. Pediatr Res 15 (Suppl 4), 663 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-01349
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-01349