Energy-sparing strategies to protect human fetal growth.
OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to test whether energy-sensitive adjustments in gestational metabolism, previously observed in studies of Gambian and British women, are a general phenomenon and to define the nutritional factors that direct them.


METHODS
Retrospective analysis of data on basal metabolic rate and fat deposition in 360 pregnancies from 10 studies in a wide range of nutritional settings was performed.


RESULTS
The energy costs of pregnancy varied widely between different communities: maintenance costs from -45 to +210 MJ, fat deposition from -23 to +267 MJ, and total energy costs from -20 to +523 MJ. Total costs were correlated with prepregnancy fatness (r = 0.80, p < 0.01) and pregnancy weight gain (r = 0.94, p < 0.001). Marginally nourished women conserved energy by suppressing metabolic rate and by gaining little fat.


CONCLUSIONS
The energy needs of pregnancy are modulated over a wide range in response to maternal energy status. This may be an important means of protecting fetal growth.
Dunn Clinical Nutrition Centre, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
S D
SD
Poppitt
A M
AM
Prentice
G R
GR
Goldberg
R G
RG
Whitehead
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000502:physiology; D000328:Adult; D001481:Basal Metabolism; D001824:Body Constitution; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000502:physiology