Background: The relationship between maternal body composition and foetal development is unclear.
Aim: To determine the relationship between maternal body composition [fat mass (FM) and fat-free mass (FFM)] and foetal growth and birth weight, independent of potential confounding factors.
Subjects and methods: This study consisted of 92 women, normal and overweight/obese, recruited from the Instituto Fernandes Figueira in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Body composition (FM and FFM) was estimated using bioelectrical impedance. Foetal growth was assessed using serial ultrasound measurements at the second and third trimester and infant's weight and length were measured at birth. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to determine the association between maternal FM and FFM and birth weight adjusted for gestational age (BWt) and change in estimated foetal weight (ΔEFW), controlling for infant gender, maternal serum glucose, energy intake, parity, height and income.
Results: Maternal FM, but not FFM, was positively associated with BWt (p = 0.02) and borderline with ΔEFW (p = 0.05). FM expressed as a percentage of body weight (%FM) showed a significant positive association with BWt (p < 0.001) and ΔEFW (p < 0.01). Using backward linear regression analysis, FM was a significant predictor of BWt (p < 0.001) and ΔEFW (p = 0.03), but not change in femur length.
Conclusion: In this small sample of normal and overweight/obese women, maternal FM at mid-pregnancy is associated with neonatal BW and foetal growth.
Keywords: Birth weight; foetal growth; international; maternal body composition.