title: Influence of maternal nutrient intake and weight gain on neonatal birth weight: a prospective cohort study in southern Thailand.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the nutritional intake and gestational weight gain of pregnant women and the relationship between nutritional intake, gestational weight gain, and neonatal birth weight.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective cohort study was carried out in three districts of Songkhla Province in southern Thailand. Nutritional intakes were calculated based on a 24-h food record and a food frequency checklist. The women were followed until delivery and the neonatal birth weight recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred and thirty-six pregnant women with a mean age of 27.2 +/- 6.2 years were recruited. The average daily energy intake was 1806 +/- 482 kcal. The average gestational weight gain was 12.2 +/- 4.6 kg and the average neonatal birth weight was 3054 +/- 474 g. Micronutrient intakes were overall inadequate averaging only 50-80% of recommended levels. Neonatal birth weight was significantly positively correlated with gestational weight gain (r = 0.17, p = 0.01), but was not correlated with maternal nutritional intakes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pregnant women in rural areas of Songkhla Province consume adequate macronutrients with appropriate gestational weight gain, but generally consume inadequate micronutrients. A nutritional education program explaining the importance of micronutrients should be a focus of a public education program.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Prince of Songkla University, Hat-Yai, Songkhla, Thailand. somchit.j@psu.ac.th
authors.forename: Somchit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jaruratanasirikul
authors.forename: Pasuree
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sangsupawanich
authors.forename: Ounjai
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Koranantakul
authors.forename: Prasin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chanvitan
authors.forename: Hutcha
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sriplung
authors.forename: Thanomjit
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Patanasin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight; D004032:Diet; D015930:Diet Records; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012424:Rural Population; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D015430:Weight Gain