title: Energy and Protein Intake During Pregnancy in Relation to Preterm Birth: A Case Control Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To find the association of maternal energy and protein intake with preterm birth.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case-control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hospitals at Lucknow in Northern India.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cases (n=350) were defined as mothers (age 18-40 y) of singleton live preterm (<37 wks) neonates. Controls (n=350) were mothers who delivered a singleton neonate, consecutive to enrolled case, after completing 37 weeks of gestation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a statistically significant lower mean (SD) energy intake [cases 1624 (249) Kcal vs. controls 1911 (341) Kcal; P<0.001] and protein intake [cases 32.1 (6.1) vs. controls 37.2 (7.0); P<0.001] among women who delivered preterm neonates. Maternal energy and protein intake had significant positive correlation with neonatal weight, length, foot length, head circumference and chest circumference.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lower energy and protein intake during pregnancy is possibly associated with preterm birth.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics and *Obstetrics and Gynecology, King Georges Medical University, Lucknow, UP, India. Correspondence to: Dr Shally Awasthi, Professor, Department of Pediatrics, King Georges Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. Shally07@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Shally
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Awasthi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chauhan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pandey
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D001724:Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D004044:Dietary Proteins