[A Longitudinal study of body composition and basal metabolic rate during pregnancy in a black population of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (RDC)].
OBJECTIVE
A longitudinal study of body composition and basal metabolic rate during pregnancy in a black population of Kinshasa.


METHODS
Body composition and basal metabolic rate were determined by bioimpedance, and energy intake was evaluated using the 24 h recall method at 20, 34 and > 37 weeks of gestation in 76 black, Congolese women. The subjects had to be healthy, and to deliver term, singleton infants after a normal pregnancy.


RESULTS
At 20 weeks of pregnancy, the 76 women, aged 28.5+/-6.4 years, had a body weight of 61.1+/-7.7 kg, a body mass index of 23.0+/-3.8 kg/m(2), a fat mass of 36.6+/-6.8% and a basal metabolic rate of 1399+/-84 kcal/24 h. Subsequently, increases in body weight (+6.5 kg), fat-free mass (+ 5.1 kg), body water (+4.4 l) and basal metabolic rate (+297 kcal/24 h) (P < 0.0001) were observed. The increase in fat mass (+1.4 kg) was less pronounced. Energy intake was stable.


CONCLUSIONS
Changes in body composition during pregnancy in Congolese black women are comparable to those reported in other populations. Pre- and per-gravidic fat mass is higher in congolese women than in Caucasian women.
Mbungu Mwimba
R
R
Département de gynécologie et obstétrique, cliniques universitaires de Kinshasa, République démocratique du Congo (RDC).
Tandu-Umba N F
B
B
Muls
E
E
D000328:Adult; D001481:Basal Metabolism; D044383:Black People; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001834:Body Water; D001835:Body Weight; D015023:Democratic Republic of the Congo; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D011247:Pregnancy