WEIGHT, NUTRITION, AND IMMUNE STATUS IN POSTPARTAL WOMEN

Postpartal weight loss, nutritional intake, and immune status were exa mined in 65 women. Although 80% of the women last weight and were not overweight by the 4th postpartal mouth, the majority had diets that we re inadequate in fat content (greater than or equal to 30% of calories from fat) or protein content (less than or equal to 12% of calories f rom protein), or in terms of caloric intake (less than or equal to 1,2 00 calories or greater than or equal to 2,200 calories). Differences i n some immune cell subsets were noted between women with high-fat and normal-fat diets. Women with high-fat diets had lower percentages of s pecific immune cell subsets than women with normal-fat diets. Protein intake was not related to immune cell phenotypes.