title: Nutritional status of pregnant women in Northeast Thailand.
abstract: A comparative study on the nutritional status of primiparous and multiparous women in the first trimester of pregnancy was conducted in the northeastern province of Thailand, Khon Kaen, to investigate differences in protein-energy-malnutrition, iron deficiency anaemia, vitamin A deficiency and carotenoid status between both parity groups. 94 subjects were recruited at first attendance of antenatal clinic. Data about weight, height, haemoglobin and haematocrit were obtained from hospital records. Anthropometric measurements of mid-upper arm circumference and triceps skinfold were done on a sub sample. Retinol, carotenoids and alpha-tocopherol were analysed using a reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography method. Ferritin, transthyretin and retinol-binding protein were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Primiparous women showed lower body mass index, mid-upper arm circumference, corrected arm muscle area (P<0.001) as well as lower retinol, cholesterol and triceps skinfold (P<0.05). After adjusting for age and socio-economical status the significant difference persisted for all parameters but triceps skinfold. No significant differences of alpha-tocopherol, serum proteins, carotenoids and iron indices could be observed, even though a tendency to higher values for ferritin, haemoglobin and haematocrit was shown in multiparous women. Prevalence of protein-energy-malnutrition (body mass index <18.5 kg/m2) in the primiparous group was significantly higher compared to the multiparous group (P<0.05). Prevalence of protein-energy-malnutrition, iron deficiency anaemia and vitamin A deficiency were 15.1%,6.3% and 3.3%, respectively, in the total study population. No differences between parity groups could be observed for prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia and vitamin A deficiency.
authors.affiliation: University of Potsdam, Institute of Nutritional Science, Arthur-Scheunert-Allee 114-116, D-14558 Nuthetal, Germany. unsol@animail.net
authors.forename: Christoph U
authors.initials: CU
authors.lastname: Andert
authors.forename: Pattara
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sanchaisuriya
authors.forename: Kanokwan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sanchaisuriya
authors.forename: Frank P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Schelp
authors.forename: Florian J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Schweigert
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology; D000886:Anthropometry; D001132:Arm / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000097:blood; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D009752:Nutritional Status / Q000502:physiology*; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition / Q000453:epidemiology; D012885:Skinfold Thickness; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D014801:Vitamin A; D002338:Carotenoids; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol