Nutritional status of low birth weight infants in Makkah region: Evaluation of anthropometric and biochemical parameters.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the nutritional status of low birth weight infants from Makkah area immediately after birth.


METHODS
The prospective study was conducted between October and December 2012 at Al-Noor Speciality Hospital, Makkah, Saudi Arabia, and comprised low birth weight infants who were divided into three equal groups according to their birth weight: group A (low birthweight1501-2500gm), group B (very low birthweight1001-1500gm), and group C (extremely low birth weight < 1000gm). Mothers who had delivered low birth weight infants were enrolled. Weight, length, head circumference, complete blood count, and blood tests were performed for all the infants under investigation.


RESULTS
There were 300 infants in the study; 100(33.3%) in each of the 3 groups. Group C showed the lowest gestational age, length, and head circumferences (p< 0.05 each). No significant discrepancies were found in complete blood count results among the three groups (p>0.05). Normal serum phosphorus, potassium and magnesium levels and mild hypocalcaemia were observed in all infants. However, hypernatraemia was significantly evident (p< 0.05) for group C. All infants had hyperglycaemia and hyperbilirubinaemia. Albumin content decreased significantly (p< 0.05) as birth weight decreased. Groups B and C infants showed higher serum urea than group A infants (p< 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Low newborn birth weight was related to the deteriorated nutritional status in terms of low anthropometric and abnormal biochemical measures. It was not possible to correlate the birth weight of the neonates to the parameters of the complete blood tests.
Department of Clinical Nutrition, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
Osama Adnan
OA
Kensara
Department of Clinical Nutrition, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
Firas Sultan
FS
Azzeh
D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D001827:Body Height; D002508:Cephalometry; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices; D005260:Female; D006400:Hematocrit; D006454:Hemoglobins; D006801:Humans; D006932:Hyperbilirubinemia / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006955:Hypernatremia / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D034141:Hypoalbuminemia / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006996:Hypocalcemia / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D052577:Infant, Extremely Low Birth Weight; D062071:Infant, Extremely Premature; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight / Q000097:blood*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000097:blood; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D008274:Magnesium / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000097:blood; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D014508:Urea / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
D006454:Hemoglobins; D010758:Phosphorus; D014508:Urea; D008274:Magnesium; D011188:Potassium
Low birth weight infant, Nutritional assessment, Makkah region.