Sains Malaysiana 42(11)(2013): 1633–1640

 

Association between Maternal Food Group Intake and Birth Size

(Perkaitan antara Pemakanan Ibu Semasa Mengandung dengan Saiz Kelahiran Bayi)

 

S.L. LOY, M. MARHAZLINA & J.M. HAMID JAN*

Nutrition Programme, School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia

16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia

 

Received: 16 April 2012/Accepted: 20 March 2013

 

ABSTRACT

Maternal nutrition is one of the dominant factors in determining fetal growth and subsequent developmental health for both mother and child. This study aimed to explore the association between maternal consumption of food groups and birth size among singleton, termed newborns. One hundred and eight healthy pregnant women in their third trimester, aged 19 to 40 years who visited the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic of Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia completed an interviewed-administered, validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. The maternal socio-demographic, medical and obstetric histories and anthropometry measurements were recorded accordingly. The pregnancy outcomes, birth weight, birth length and head circumference were obtained from the medical records. The data were analyzed using multiple linear regression by controlling for possible confounders. Among all food groups, fruits intake was associated with higher birth weight (p=0.018). None of the food intake showed evident association with respect to birth length while only fruits intake was associated positively with head circumference (p=0.019). In contrast, confectioneries and condiments were associated with lower birth weight (p=0.013 and p=0.001, respectively). Also, condiments appeared to associate inversely with ponderal index (p=0.015). These findings suggest the potential beneficial effects of micronutrient rich food but detrimental effects of high sugar and sodium food on fetal growth. Such an effect may have long term health consequences to the lives of children.

 

Keywords: Birth weight; food frequency questionnaire; maternal intake; pregnancy

 

ABSTRAK

Pemakanan ibu adalah antara faktor utama dalam menentukan pertumbuhan dan kesihatan bayi dan ibu. Penyelidikan ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji perkaitan antara pemakanan ibu berdasarkan kepada kumpulan makanan dan saiz kelahiran bayi. Seratus lapan orang ibu mengandung yang berkunjung ke Klinik Obstetrik dan Ginekologi Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia, berada dalam trimester ketiga kehamilan dan berumur 19–40 tahun telah ditemu duga dengan menggunakan borang soal selidik kekerapan pengambilan makanan yang telah divalidasi. Maklumat sosiodemografi, sejarah perubatan dan obstetrik serta pengukuran antropometri ibu direkodkan. Maklumat selepas kehamilan, berat bayi, panjang bayi dan lilitan kepala bayi diambil daripada rekod perubatan. Data dianalisis dengan kaedah regresi linear berganda. Antara semua kumpulan makanan, pengambilan buah-buahan mempunyai perkaitan dengan berat bayi yang lebih tinggi (p=0.018). Tiada kumpulan makanan yang menunjukkan hubung kait dengan panjang bayi, manakala hanya pengambilan buah-buahan mempunyai perkaitan positif dengan lilitan kepala (p=0.019). Sebaliknya, pengambilan konfeksi dan kondimen berkait dengan berat bayi yang lebih rendah (p=0.013 dan p=0.001). Pengambilan kondimen juga mempunyai perkaitan songsang dengan indeks ponderal (p=0.015). Keputusan ini menunjukkan bahawa pengambilan makanan mikronutrien tinggi membawa kesan baik manakala pengambilan makanan yang mengandungi gula dan garam tinggi membawa kesan buruk kepada pertumbuhan bayi. Kesan seperti ini mungkin akan mempengaruhi kesihatan kanak-kanak dalam jangka masa yang panjang.

 

Kata kunci: Berat lahir; kehamilan; kekerapan pengambilan makanan; pemakanan ibu

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*Corresponding author; email: hamidjan@kb.usm.my

 

 

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