title: Maternal weight and body composition during pregnancy are associated with placental and birth weight in rural Bangladesh.
abstract: Placental growth is a strong predictor of fetal growth, but little is known about maternal predictors of placental growth in malnourished populations. Our objective was to investigate in a prospective study the associations of maternal weight and body composition [total body water (TBW) estimated by bioelectrical impedance and fat and fat-free mass derived from upper arm fat and muscle areas (UAFA, UAMA)] and changes in these with placental and birth weights. Within a cluster-randomized trial of maternal micronutrient supplementation, a subsample of 350 women was measured 3 times across gestation. Longitudinal analysis was used to examine independent associations of ∼10-wk measurements and ∼10-20 wk and ∼20-32 wk changes with birth outcomes. Weight, TBW, and UAMA, but not UAFA, at ∼10 wk were each positively and independently associated with placental weight and birth weight (P < 0.05). Of the maternal ∼10-20 wk changes in measurements, only TBW change and placental weight, and maternal weight and birth weight were positively associated (P < 0.05). Gains in weight, TBW, and UAMA from 20 to 32 wk were positively and UAFA gain was negatively associated with placental weight (P ≤ 0.01). Gains in weight and UAMA from 20 to 32 wk were positively associated with birth weight (P ≤ 0.01). Overall, higher maternal weight and measures of fat-free mass at ∼10 wk gestation and gains from 20 to 32 wk are independently associated with higher placental and birth weight.
authors.affiliation: Center for Human Nutrition, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Alison D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Gernand
authors.forename: Parul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Christian
authors.forename: Rina Rani
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.forename: Saijuddin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shaikh
authors.forename: Alain B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Labrique
authors.forename: Kerry J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Schulze
authors.forename: Abu Ahmed
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Shamim
authors.forename: Keith P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: West
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001459:Bangladesh; D001724:Birth Weight; D001835:Body Weight; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D009929:Organ Size; D010920:Placenta / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018977:Micronutrients