Hostname: page-component-6766d58669-nqrmd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2026-05-23T15:39:00.313Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Is maternal dietary macronutrient composition in pregnancy associated with offspring birthweight?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 December 2017

S.S. Sharma ,
D.C. Greenwood ,
N.A.B. Simpson  and
J.E. Cade
S.S. Sharma
Affiliation:
Nutritional Epidemiology Group, School of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
D.C. Greenwood
Affiliation:
Division of Biostatistics, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
N.A.B. Simpson
Affiliation:
Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
J.E. Cade
Affiliation:
Nutritional Epidemiology Group, School of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

An abstract is not available for this content. As you have access to this content, full HTML content is provided on this page. A PDF of this content is also available in through the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Evidence is inconsistent concerning the effect of macronutrient dietary composition (carbohydrate [CHO], protein and fat) during pregnancy on adverse birth outcomes( Reference Moore, Davies and Willson 1 , Reference Chong, Chia and Colega 2 , Reference Lagiou, Tamimi and Mucci 3 ). The aim of our study was to explore whether maternal dietary macronutrient intake in the first trimester was associated with offspring birthweight.

A prospective cohort( Reference Boylan, Cade and Kirk 4 ) of 1,196 pregnant women in Leeds, UK provided a 24 hour dietary recall. Additional information on alcohol intake and smoking status was collected. Multiple linear regression models analysed the association between maternal macronutrient dietary intake in the first trimester and birthweight. Models were adjusted for confounders including ethnicity, parity, gestational age at delivery, maternal height, weight and neonatal gender, and mutually adjusted for energy contributing macronutrients (Model 1). Model 2 was additionally adjusted for alcohol intake and smoking status.

=Mutually adjusted for other energy contributing macronutrients aAdjusted for maternal weight, height, ethnicity, parity, gestational age at delivery, sex of baby bAdditional adjustment for average alcohol intake and smoking status

Results showed that each additional 10 g/day CHO consumption in the first trimester was associated with an increase of 4 g (95 % CI 1 to 7; P = 0·003) in birthweight. Conversely, each additional 10 g/day fat consumption was associated with a decrease of 8 g (95 % CI 0·3 to 16; P = 0·04) in birthweight. There was no evidence of an association between protein intake and birthweight after adjusting for alcohol intake and smoking habits.

Fat and CHO consumption in the first trimester could play a role in optimising birthweight. We recommend an appropriate balance of carbohydrate and fat intake during pregnancy.

References

1. Moore, VM, Davies, MJ, Willson, KJ et al. (2004) J Nutr 134, 1820–1826.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
2. Chong, MF-F, Chia, AR, Colega, M et al. (2015) J Nutr 145, 1303–1310.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
3. Lagiou, P, Tamimi, RM, Mucci, LA, et al. (2004) Eur J Clin Nutr 58, 231–237.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
4. Boylan, SM, Cade, JE, Kirk, SFL et al. (2008) Br J Nutr 100, 875–82.CrossRefGoogle Scholar