title: Changes in skinfolds and mid-upper arm circumference during pregnancy in Argentine women.
abstract: This investigation describes the pattern of changes in mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), triceps, biceps and subscapular skinfold thicknesses during the course of pregnancy, and its relationship with maternal and newborn outcomes. A prospective cohort of 1066 pregnant women were selected in seven different urban regions in Argentina. Measurements of MUAC were carried out at 16, 28 and 36 gestational weeks. In a subsample of 488 women, triceps, biceps and subscapular skinfold thicknesses were measured. Mean total increase in subscapular, tricipital and bicipital skinfolds from 16 to 36 weeks of gestation were 4.5, 3.6 and 2.6 mm, respectively. MUAC showed a mean increase of 1.7 cm in the same period. Overweight or obese women at the start of pregnancy had lower increases in all measurements compared with women with normal or low body mass index. Maternal anthropometry was related to birthweight; women who gave birth to infants of less than 3000 g had lower average values in all measurements than those who had normal birthweight infants. LMS curves for MUAC and skinfolds by gestational age are presented, which can be used as a reference to assess maternal nutrition status during pregnancy. MUAC, tricipital and subscapular skinfold for gestational age curves are proposed for monitoring maternal nutritional status during pregnancy. MUAC cut-off points of 24.5, 25.5 and 26.5 cm for 16, 28 and 36 weeks of gestation, respectively, are also proposed as a proxy to detect low birthweight.
authors.affiliation: School of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Marcelo T de Alvear 2202, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina. lblopez@fmed.uba.ar
authors.forename: Laura Beatriz
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: López
authors.forename: Elvira Beatriz
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Calvo
authors.forename: Mabel Susana
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Poy
authors.forename: Yanina
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: del Valle Balmaceda
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cámera
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods*; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D001724:Birth Weight; D015992:Body Mass Index; D049628:Body Size; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000502:physiology*; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012885:Skinfold Thickness; D013851:Thinness / Q000453:epidemiology; D014504:Urban Health; D015430:Weight Gain; D055815:Young Adult