title: Using the effects of maternal nutritional indicators (hemoglobin and total protein) on baby's birth weight outcome to forecast a paradigm shift toward increased levels of non-communicable diseases in children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Maternal malnutrition can lead to low birth weight in babies, which puts them at risk of developing non-communicable diseases later in life. Evidence from developed countries has shown that low birth weight is associated with a predisposition to higher rates of non-communicable diseases later in life. However, information on this is lacking in developing countries. Thus, this work studied the effects of maternal nutritional indicators (hemoglobin and total protein) on birth weight outcome of babies to forecast a paradigm shift toward increased levels of non-communicable diseases in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mother-baby pairs were enrolled in this study using systematic random sampling. Maternal haemogblobin and total proteins were measured using micro-hematocrit and biuret methods, and birth weights of their babies were estimated using the bassinet weighing scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 168 (100%) babies that participated in this study, 122 (72.6%) were delivered at term and 142 (84.5%) had normal birth weights. Mean comparison of baby's birth weight and maternal hemoglobin was not significant (P = 0.483), that for maternal total protein was also not significant (P = 0.411). Even though positive correlation coefficients were observed between birth weight of babies, maternal hemoglobin and total proteins, these were however not significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Maternal nutrition did not contribute significantly to low birth weight in our babies. Therefore, association between maternal nutrition and low birth weight to predict future development of non-communicable diseases in our study group is highly unlikely. However, we recommend further work.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Federal Medical Center, Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Baba Usman
authors.initials: BU
authors.lastname: Ahmadu
authors.forename: Nyandaiti
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yakubu
authors.forename: Haruna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yusuph
authors.forename: Marshall
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alfred
authors.forename: Buba
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bazza
authors.forename: Abdullahi Suleiman
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Lamurde
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation; D005544:Forecasting; D005865:Gestational Age; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D009035:Mothers; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D017678:Sex Distribution
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D011506:Proteins