Determinants of pregnancy outcome and newborn behavior of a semirural Egyptian population

Article Abstract:

It is well known that birth weight is related to infant morbidity (rate of disease) and mortality. Newborn infants who have very low birth weights are at greater risk for becoming sick or dying. Infant birth weight is associated with the length of the pregnancy, the woman's body weight prior to pregnancy, and the amount of weight gained during pregnancy. Several studies have suggested that the nutritional status of the mother during pregnancy can influence the infant's behavior and ability to process sensory information during the first days following birth. To investigate this further, the effects of maternal body weight, weight gain, food intake, morbidity, and household socioeconomic status on infant birth weight were studied in 121 pregnant women living in the village of Kalama, Egypt. The mothers were normal to moderately overweight during the early stages of pregnancy. The average daily intake during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy was 2,000 calories, mostly from plant sources. Only 5 percent of the infants delivered had low birth weight. The factors that were the best predictors of infant birth weight were maternal weight in the early stages of pregnancy, weight gain during pregnancy, and the length of the pregnancy. At the same time, maternal weight during the early stages of pregnancy and the amount of energy or protein (animal-source foods) in the mother's diet influenced the infant's behavior. The infants of mothers who had better nutrition during pregnancy and consumed more energy and protein seemed to respond better to input from the surrounding environment. It is concluded that maternal weight during early pregnancy is the best predictor of infant birth weight and behavior. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Psychological aspects, Pregnant women, Weight gain, Birth weight

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Distribution of B-6 vitamers in human milk during a 24-h period after oral supplementation with different amounts of pyridoxine

Article Abstract:

Vitamin B-6 is critical to the normal development of the nervous system. Therefore, levels of vitamin B-6 in breast milk play an important role in infant development. Surprisingly, supplementation of lactating women with the vitamin has not always yielded adequate B-6 levels in breast milk. Vitamin B-6 exists in a number of forms, or vitamers: pyridoxal (PL); pyridoxal-5'-phosphate (PLP); pyridoxamine (PM); pyridoxine (PN; the form in supplements); and pyridoxamine 5'-phosphate (PMP). This is generally the order in which the forms are present, from highest to lowest levels, in blood samples. The concentrations and relative levels of these vitamers were determined in breast milk from 17 women who were taking 2.5 or 15 milligrams (mg) of vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine) per day. Subjects taking 15 mg had much higher concentrations of total B-6 in milk throughout the 24-hour period following supplementation. PL, the most easily absorbed B-6 vitamer, was the most predominant form and increased the most following vitamin B-6 ingestion. PLP and PM increased as well in women taking 15 mg, while an increase in PM was the only significant response following ingestion of the 2.5 mg supplements. Two women who were not taking vitamin B-6 had 25 percent less PL vitamer compared with those who were taking supplements. The consequences of altered vitamin B-6 levels on infant development need to be studied further. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Infants, Composition, Lactation, Breast milk

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Vitamin B-6 status of Egyptian mothers: relation to infant behavior and maternal-infant interactions

Article Abstract:

Vitamin B-6 is critical for normal nervous system development in infancy. Deficiency of the vitamin in infants results in irritability, seizures, and other neurological problems. Adults can also be affected by B-6 deficiency, and may become irritable, depressed, and confused. Poor B-6 nutrition in a population may affect infant health through direct effects on the infant, through the behavior of adult caregivers, or through a combination of these two. The consequences of poor maternal vitamin B-6 nutrition on pregnancy outcome, infant behavior, and mother-infant interactions in 27 Egyptian village families were studied. Maternal levels of vitamin B-6 significantly predicted the birth weight of infants. The behaviors of newborns, specifically the ability to be consoled, appropriate building up to crying, and response to aversive stimuli were proportional to maternal vitamin B-6 status. Mothers with poor B-6 status were less responsive to their infants, intervened less effectively during infant distress, and were more likely to enlist older siblings as caregivers. Further research on these issues would be very useful. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Maternal and infant welfare, Infant welfare, Maternal welfare, Nutritional aspects, Child development, Vitamin B complex, Vitamin B in human nutrition

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