BMJ 1996;312:410 (17 February)
Papers
Maternal nutrition in early and late pregnancy in relation to placental and fetal growth
K Godfrey,
epidemiologist,a
S Robinson,
nutritionist D J P Barker, director,a
Djp Barker,
C Osmond,
statistician,a
V Cox,
computer analyst aa Medical Research Council Environmental Epidemiology Unit (University of Southampton), Southampton General Hospital, Southampton SO16 6YD
Correspondence to: Dr Godfrey.
Abstract
Objective: To assess how nutrient intakes of mothers in early and late pregnancy influence placental and fetal growth.
Design: Prospective observational study.
Setting: Princess Anne Maternity Hospital, Southampton.
Subjects: 538 mothers who delivered at term.
Main outcome measures: Placental and birth weights adjusted for the infant's sex and duration of gestation.
Results: Mothers who had high carbohydrate intakes in early pregnancy had babies with lower placental and birth weights. Low maternal intakes of dairy and meat protein in late pregnancy were also associated with lower placental and birth weights. Placental weight fell by 49 g (95% confidence interval 16 g to 81 g; P=0.002) for each log g increase in intake of carbohydrate in early pregnancy and by 1.4 g (0.4 g to 2.4 g; P=0.005) for each g decrease in intake of dairy protein in late pregnancy. Birth weight fell by 165 g (49 g to 282 g; P=0.005) for each log g increase in carbohydrate intake in early pregnancy and by 3.1 g (0.3 g to 6.0 g; P=0.03) for each g decrease in meat protein intake in late pregnancy. These associations were independent of the mother's height and body mass index and of strong relations between the mother's birth weight and the placental and birth weights of her offspring.
Conclusion: These findings suggest that a high carbohydrate intake in early pregnancy suppresses placental growth, especially if combined with a low dairy protein intake in late pregnancy. Such an effect could have long term consequences for the offspring's risk of cardiovascular disease.
|
Key messages
- Key messages
- Low intakes of animal protein in late pregnancy were also associated with lower placental and birth weights
- These associations were independent of strong relations between the mother's birth weight and the placental and birth weights of her offspring
- In sheep high nutrient intakes in early pregnancy can suppress placental and fetal growth
- Though these effects could be of long term importance for the development of cardiovascular disease, they are not currently a basis for changing dietary recommendations to pregnant women
|

CiteULike
Complore
Connotea
Del.icio.us
Digg
Reddit
Technorati What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
-
Gluckman, P. D., Hanson, M. A., Cooper, C., Thornburg, K. L.
(2008). Effect of In Utero and Early-Life Conditions on Adult Health and Disease. NEJM
359: 61-73
[Full text]
-
Jansson, N., Nilsfelt, A., Gellerstedt, M., Wennergren, M., Rossander-Hulthen, L., Powell, T. L, Jansson, T.
(2008). Maternal hormones linking maternal body mass index and dietary intake to birth weight. Am. J. Clin. Nutr.
87: 1743-1749
[Abstract]
[Full text]
-
Xue, F., Willett, W. C., Rosner, B. A., Forman, M. R., Michels, K. B.
(2008). Parental characteristics as predictors of birthweight. Hum Reprod
23: 168-177
[Abstract]
[Full text]
-
Olsen, S. F, Halldorsson, T. I, Willett, W. C, Knudsen, V. K, Gillman, M. W, Mikkelsen, T. B, Olsen, J., and The NUTRIX Consortium,
(2007). Milk consumption during pregnancy is associated with increased infant size at birth: prospective cohort study. Am. J. Clin. Nutr.
86: 1104-1110
[Abstract]
[Full text]
-
Langley-Evans, S C, Carrington, L J
(2006). Diet and the developing immune system. Lupus
15: 746-752
[Abstract]
-
Phillips, D I.
(2006). External influences on the fetus and their long-term consequences. Lupus
15: 794-800
[Abstract]
-
Regan, F. M., Cutfield, W. S., Jefferies, C., Robinson, E., Hofman, P. L.
(2006). The Impact of Early Nutrition in Premature Infants on Later Childhood Insulin Sensitivity and Growth. Pediatrics
118: 1943-1949
[Abstract]
[Full text]
-
Jansson, N., Pettersson, J., Haafiz, A., Ericsson, A., Palmberg, I., Tranberg, M., Ganapathy, V., Powell, T. L., Jansson, T.
(2006). Down-regulation of placental transport of amino acids precedes the development of intrauterine growth restriction in rats fed a low protein diet. J. Physiol.
576: 935-946
[Abstract]
[Full text]
-
Gale, C. R., Jiang, B., Robinson, S. M., Godfrey, K. M., Law, C. M., Martyn, C. N.
(2006). Maternal Diet During Pregnancy and Carotid Intima-Media Thickness in Children. Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Bio.
26: 1877-1882
[Abstract]
[Full text]
-
Bloomfield, F H, Oliver, M H, Harding, J E
(2006). The late effects of fetal growth patterns.. Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed.
91: F299-F304
[Abstract]
[Full text]
-
Trujillo-Ortega, M. E, Mota-Rojas, D., Hernandez-Gonzalez, R., Velazquez-Armenta, E. Y., Nava-Ocampo, A. A, Ramirez-Necoechea, R., Becerril-Herrera, M., Alonso-Spilsbury, M.
(2006). Obstetric and neonatal outcomes to recombinant porcine somatotropin administered in the last third of pregnancy to primiparous sows.. J Endocrinol
189: 575-582
[Abstract]
[Full text]
-
Murphy, V. E., Smith, R., Giles, W. B., Clifton, V. L.
(2006). Endocrine Regulation of Human Fetal Growth: The Role of the Mother, Placenta, and Fetus. Endocr. Rev.
27: 141-169
[Abstract]
[Full text]
-
Gnanalingham, M G, Mostyn, A, Gardner, D S, Stephenson, T, Symonds, M E
(2006). Developmental regulation of the lung in preparation for life after birth: hormonal and nutritional manipulation of local glucocorticoid action and uncoupling protein-2.. J Endocrinol
188: 375-386
[Abstract]
[Full text]
-
Jiang, B., Godfrey, K. M., Martyn, C. N., Gale, C. R.
(2006). Birth Weight and Cardiac Structure in Children. Pediatrics
117: e257-e261
[Abstract]
[Full text]
-
Salsberry, P. J., Reagan, P. B.
(2005). Dynamics of Early Childhood Overweight. Pediatrics
116: 1329-1338
[Abstract]
[Full text]
-
Parker, E., Phillips, D. I. W., Cockington, R. A., Cull, C., Poulton, J.
(2005). A common mitchondrial DNA variant is associated with thinness in mothers and their 20-yr-old offspring. Am. J. Physiol. Endocrinol. Metab.
289: E1110-E1114
[Abstract]
[Full text]
-
Gurekian, C. N., Koski, K. G.
(2005). Amniotic Fluid Amino Acid Concentrations Are Modified by Maternal Dietary Glucose, Gestational Age, and Fetal Growth in Rats. J. Nutr.
135: 2219-2224
[Abstract]
[Full text]
-
Cagnacci, A., Pansini, F. S., Bacchi-Modena, A., Giulini, N., Mollica, G., De Aloysio, D., Vadora, E., Volpe, A., for the Emilia-Romagna Operative Group for the Men,
(2005). Season of birth influences the timing of menopause. Hum Reprod
20: 2190-2193
[Abstract]
[Full text]
-
Ashdown-Lambert, J. R
(2005). A review of low birth weight: predictors, precursors and morbidity outcomes. The Journal of the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health
125: 76-83
[Abstract]
-
Wallace, J. M., Aitken, R. P., Milne, J. S., Hay, W. W. Jr.
(2004). Nutritionally Mediated Placental Growth Restriction in the Growing Adolescent: Consequences for the Fetus. Biol. Reprod.
71: 1055-1062
[Abstract]
[Full text]
-
Gluckman, P. D., Hanson, M. A.
(2004). Living with the Past: Evolution, Development, and Patterns of Disease. Science
305: 1733-1736
[Abstract]
[Full text]
-
Mitchell, E A, Robinson, E, Clark, P M, Becroft, D M O, Glavish, N, Pattison, N S, Pryor, J E, Thompson, J M D, Wild, C J
(2004). Maternal nutritional risk factors for small for gestational age babies in a developed country: a case-control study. Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed.
89: F431-F435
[Abstract]
[Full text]
-
Moore, V. M., Davies, M. J., Willson, K. J., Worsley, A., Robinson, J. S.
(2004). Dietary Composition of Pregnant Women Is Related to Size of the Baby at Birth. J. Nutr.
134: 1820-1826
[Abstract]
[Full text]
-
Mathews, F., Youngman, L., Neil, A.
(2004). Maternal circulating nutrient concentrations in pregnancy: implications for birth and placental weights of term infants. Am. J. Clin. Nutr.
79: 103-110
[Abstract]
[Full text]
-
Forrester, T.
(2004). Historic and Early Life Origins of Hypertension in Africans. J. Nutr.
134: 211-216
[Abstract]
[Full text]
-
Langley-Evans, A J, Langley-Evans, S C
(2003). Relationship between maternal nutrient intakes in early and late pregnancy and infants weight and proportions at birth: prospective cohort study. The Journal of the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health
123: 210-216
[Abstract]
-
Edwards, C A, Osman, L M, Godden, D J, Campbell, D M, Douglas, J G
(2003). Relationship between birth weight and adult lung function: controlling for maternal factors. Thorax
58: 1061-1065
[Abstract]
[Full text]
-
Hobel, C., Culhane, J.
(2003). Role of Psychosocial and Nutritional Stress on Poor Pregnancy Outcome. J. Nutr.
133: 1709S-1717
[Abstract]
[Full text]
-
Gluckman, P. D., Pinal, C. S.
(2003). Regulation of Fetal Growth by the Somatotrophic Axis. J. Nutr.
133: 1741S-1746
[Abstract]
[Full text]
-
Khan, I. Y., Taylor, P. D., Dekou, V., Seed, P. T., Lakasing, L., Graham, D., Dominiczak, A. F., Hanson, M. A., Poston, L.
(2003). Gender-Linked Hypertension in Offspring of Lard-Fed Pregnant Rats. Hypertension
41: 168-175
[Abstract]
[Full text]
-
Duggleby, S. L, Jackson, A. A
(2002). Higher weight at birth is related to decreased maternal amino acid oxidation during pregnancy. Am. J. Clin. Nutr.
76: 852-857
[Abstract]
[Full text]
-
Margetts, B M, Mohd Yusof, S, Al Dallal, Z, Jackson, A A
(2002). Persistence of lower birth weight in second generation South Asian babies born in the United Kingdom. J. Epidemiol. Community Health
56: 684-687
[Abstract]
[Full text]
-
Gray, I. P., Cooper, P. A., Cory, B. J., Toman, M., Crowther, N. J.
(2002). The Intrauterine Environment Is a Strong Determinant of Glucose Tolerance during the Neonatal Period, Even in Prematurity. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.
87: 4252-4256
[Abstract]
[Full text]
-
Bertin, E., Gangnerau, M.-N., Bellon, G., Bailbe, D., Arbelot De Vacqueur, A., Portha, B.
(2002). Development of beta -cell mass in fetuses of rats deprived of protein and/or energy in last trimester of pregnancy. Am. J. Physiol. Regul. Integr. Comp. Physiol.
283: R623-R630
[Abstract]
[Full text]
-
Rahiala, E., Tenhola, S., Vanninen, E., Herrgard, E., Tikanoja, T., Martikainen, A.
(2002). Ambulatory Blood Pressure in 12-Year-Old Children Born Small for Gestational Age. Hypertension
39: 909-913
[Abstract]
[Full text]
-
Daenzer, M., Ortmann, S., Klaus, S., Metges, C. C.
(2002). Prenatal High Protein Exposure Decreases Energy Expenditure and Increases Adiposity in Young Rats. J. Nutr.
132: 142-144
[Abstract]
[Full text]
-
Moore, S. E, Collinson, A. C, Prentice, A. M
(2001). Immune function in rural Gambian children is not related to season of birth, birth size, or maternal supplementation status. Am. J. Clin. Nutr.
74: 840-847
[Abstract]
[Full text]
-
LUM, S., HOO, A.-F., DEZATEUX, C., GOETZ, I., WADE, A., DEROOY, L., COSTELOE, K., STOCKS, J.
(2001). The Association between Birthweight, Sex, and Airway Function in Infants of Nonsmoking Mothers. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med.
164: 2078-2084
[Abstract]
[Full text]
-
MATHEWS, F, YUDKIN, P, NEIL, A
(2001). Maternal nutrition and pregnancy outcome. Arch. Dis. Child.
85: 510d-510
[Full text]
-
Shiell, A. W., Campbell-Brown, M., Haselden, S., Robinson, S., Godfrey, K. M., Barker, D. J.P.
(2001). High-Meat, Low-Carbohydrate Diet in Pregnancy: Relation to Adult Blood Pressure in the Offspring. Hypertension
38: 1282-1288
[Abstract]
[Full text]
-
Barker, D. J P
(2001). The malnourished baby and infant: Relationship with Type 2 diabetes. Br Med Bull
60: 69-88
[Abstract]
[Full text]
-
Dezateux, C, Stocks, J, Wade, A M, Dundas, I, Fletcher, M E
(2001). Airway function at one year: association with premorbid airway function, wheezing, and maternal smoking. Thorax
56: 680-686
[Abstract]
[Full text]
-
Bertram, C., Trowern, A. R., Copin, N., Jackson, A. A., Whorwood, C. B.
(2001). The Maternal Diet during Pregnancy Programs Altered Expression of the Glucocorticoid Receptor and Type 2 11{beta}-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase: Potential Molecular Mechanisms Underlying the Programming of Hypertension in Utero. Endocrinology
142: 2841-2853
[Abstract]
[Full text]
-
Whorwood, C. B., Firth, K. M., Budge, H., Symonds, M. E.
(2001). Maternal Undernutrition during Early to Midgestation Programs Tissue-Specific Alterations in the Expression of the Glucocorticoid Receptor, 11{beta}-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Isoforms, and Type 1 Angiotensin II Receptor in Neonatal Sheep. Endocrinology
142: 2854-2864
[Abstract]
[Full text]
-
Metges, C. C.
(2001). Does Dietary Protein in Early Life Affect the Development of Adiposity in Mammals?. J. Nutr.
131: 2062-2066
[Abstract]
[Full text]
-
Rao, S., Yajnik, C. S., Kanade, A., Fall, C. H. D., Margetts, B. M., Jackson, A. A, Shier, R., Joshi, S., Rege, S., Lubree, H., Desai, B.
(2001). Intake of Micronutrient-Rich Foods in Rural Indian Mothers Is Associated with the Size of Their Babies at Birth: Pune Maternal Nutrition Study. J. Nutr.
131: 1217-1224
[Abstract]
[Full text]
-
Kahn, H. S., Ravindranath, R., Valdez, R., Venkat Narayan, K. M.
(2001). Fingerprint Ridge-Count Difference between Adjacent Fingertips (dR45) Predicts Upper-Body Tissue Distribution: Evidence for Early Gestational Programming. Am J Epidemiol
153: 338-344
[Abstract]
[Full text]
-
Harding, J.
(2001). The nutritional basis of the fetal origins of adult disease. Int J Epidemiol
30: 15-23
[Full text]
-
Yajnik, C.
(2001). Commentary: Fetal origins of cardiovascular risk--nutritional and non-nutritional. Int J Epidemiol
30: 57-59
[Full text]
-
MURRAY, L. J., O'REILLY, D. P. J., BETTS, N., PATTERSON, C. C., SMITH, G. D., EVANS, A. E.
(2000). Season and Outdoor Ambient Temperature: Effects on Birth Weight. Obstet Gynecol
96: 689-695
[Abstract]
[Full text]
-
Symonds, M. E, Budge, H., Stephenson, T.
(2000). Current topic: Limitations of models used to examine the influence of nutrition during pregnancy and adult disease. Arch. Dis. Child.
83: 215-219
[Full text]
-
Smith, J. T., Waddell, B. J.
(2000). Increased Fetal Glucocorticoid Exposure Delays Puberty Onset in Postnatal Life. Endocrinology
141: 2422-2428
[Abstract]
[Full text]
-
Steer, P. J
(2000). Maternal hemoglobin concentration and birth weight. Am. J. Clin. Nutr.
71: 1285S-1287
[Abstract]
[Full text]
-
Godfrey, K. M, Barker, D. J.
(2000). Fetal nutrition and adult disease. Am. J. Clin. Nutr.
71: 1344S-1352
[Abstract]
[Full text]
-
Huxley, R. R.
(2000). NAUSEA AND VOMITING IN EARLY PREGNANCY: ITS ROLE IN PLACENTAL DEVELOPMENT. Obstet Gynecol
95: 779-782
[Abstract]
[Full text]
-
Doyle, W., Crawford, M., Costeloe, K., Mathews, F., Yudkin, P., Neil, A.
(2000). Maternal nutrition and birth weight. BMJ
320: 941a-941
[Full text]
-
Mathews, F., Yudkin, P., Neil, A.
(1999). Influence of maternal nutrition on outcome of pregnancy: prospective cohort study. BMJ
319: 339-343
[Abstract]
[Full text]
-
Wheeler, T., Evans, P.W., Anthony, F.W., Godfrey, K.M., Howe, D.T., Osmond, C.
(1999). Relationship between maternal serum vascular endothelial growth factor concentration in early pregnancy and fetal and placental growth. Hum Reprod
14: 1619-1623
[Abstract]
[Full text]
-
Godfrey, K. M., Matthews, N., Glazier, J., Jackson, A., Wilman, C., Sibley, C. P.
(1998). Neutral Amino Acid Uptake by the Microvillous Plasma Membrane of the Human Placenta Is Inversely Related to Fetal Size at Birth in Normal Pregnancy. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.
83: 3320-3326
[Abstract]
[Full text]
-
Signorello, L. B., Trichopoulos, D.
(1998). Perinatal determinants of adult cardiovascular disease and cancer. Scand J Public Health
26: 161-165
[Abstract]
-
Walker, B. R, McConnachie, A., Noon, J. P, Webb, D. J, Watt, G. C M
(1998). Contribution of parental blood pressures to association between low birth weight and adult high blood pressure: cross sectional study. BMJ
316: 834-837
[Abstract]
[Full text]
-
Falkner, B., Hulman, S., Kushner, H.
(1998). Birth Weight Versus Childhood Growth as Determinants of Adult Blood Pressure. Hypertension
31: 145-150
[Abstract]
[Full text]
-
Gardner, D. S., Jackson, A. A., Langley-Evans, S. C.
(1997). Maintenance of Maternal Diet-Induced Hypertension in the Rat Is Dependent on Glucocorticoids. Hypertension
30: 1525-1530
[Abstract]
[Full text]
-
Stanner, S A, Bulmer, K, Andres, C, Lantseva, O E, Borodina, V, Poteen, V V, Yudkin, J S
(1997). Does malnutrition in utero determine diabetes and coronary heart disease in adulthood? Results from the Leningrad siege study, a cross sectional study. BMJ
315: 1342-1348
[Abstract]
[Full text]
-
Sayer, A A., Cooper, C, Barker, D J P
(1997). Is lifespan determined in utero?. Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed.
77: 162F-164
[Full text]
-
Forsen, T, Eriksson, J G, Tuomilehto, J, Teramo, K, Osmond, C, Barker, D J P
(1997). Mother's weight in pregnancy and coronary heart disease in a cohort of finnish men: follow up study. BMJ
315: 837-840
[Abstract]
[Full text]
-
(1996). MATERNAL NUTRITION MIGHT AFFECT FETAL GROWTH. JWatch General
1996: 4-4
[Full text]