Study on the relationship between increase of low-birth weight babies and the nutrition of pregnant women

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

The numbers of low birth weight infants have increased year by year in Japan. To investigate the possible association of birth weight and nutritional background in Japanese women, we examined the dietary intake during pregnancy, maternal body composition, and changes of estimated fetal weight. 22.3 percent of Japanese pregnant women were lean before pregnancy (Body Mass Index less than 18.5 kg/m^2). In most pregnant women, total calorie intake, especially carbohydrate, was less than the governmental recommendation. In low birth weight neonates, their estimated body weight tended to be low from the second trimester of pregnancy. The nutritional guidance was considered important for young Japanese women before and during pregnancy.