Maternal body composition near term and birth weight.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the relative influence of maternal body composition at late gestation on birth weight.


METHODS
Maternal body composition was estimated in 224 women near term using a deuterium dilution technique. Using a stepwise multiple linear regression analysis, we studied the association with birth weight of eight factors, including maternal fat-free mass and fat mass.


RESULTS
Maternal fat-free-mass was the most important variable influencing birth weight (R2 = .144, P < .001), followed by maternal fat mass (R2 = .051, P < .001). Gestational age at delivery was the third strongest influence on birth weight (R2 = .047, P < .001).


CONCLUSIONS
In late pregnancy, fat-free mass was the most important maternal body component associated with birth weight. The implementation of longitudinal studies could shed more light on the influence of maternal body composition on birth weight.
Mardones-Santander
F
F
Department of Public Health, and Center for Medical Research, School of Medicine, Catholic University of Chile, Santiago. mardones@med.puc.cl
Salazar
G
G
Rosso
P
P
Villarroel
L
L
D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight; D001823:Body Composition; D001834:Body Water; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016014:Linear Models; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000378:metabolism*; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third