MATERNAL SMOKING AND BODY-COMPOSITION OF THE NEWBORN

The influence on neonatal anthropometry of maternal cigarette smoking in pregnancy was investigated in 933 parous women. Anthropometric grow th parameters including skinfold measurements were studied in the newb orns. After adjustment for maternal age, pre-pregnancy weight, height and pregnancy weight gain, smoking had a clear dose-dependent negative effect on all anthropometric characteristics in the infant. In contra st to the results obtained in other investigations, the reduced birth weight of the infants of smoking mothers was not found to be primarily due to a reduction in lean body mass; nor was fat deposition found to be reduced. Fetal anthropometry was also negatively affected in infan ts born to mothers who stopped smoking during pregnancy.