THE INFLUENCE OF MATERNAL PASSIVE AND LIGHT ACTIVE SMOKING ON INTRAUTERINE GROWTH AND BODY-COMPOSITION OF THE NEWBORN

Objective: To assess the influence of passive and light active smoking on the reduction of intrauterine growth of the foetus and on modifica tions in the body composition of the newborn. Design: Random. Setting: Full term newborn infants at the Department of the Pediatric and Gyna ecological Divisions of the City Major Hospital, Chair of Paediatrics, Verona University. Subjects: One hundred and twelve mothers selected after having completed a questionnaire on smoking habits during pregna ncy. One hundred and twelve newborn infants were divided into three gr oups: Group 1. nonsmoking and non-exposed mothers; Group 2: non-smokin g but exposed mothers; Group 3: light smoking mothers (under 10 cigare ttes/d, whether or not also exposed to passive smoking). Examination w ithin 24 h of birth established the anthropometric measurements and es timates of body composition through indices or equations. Results: New borns of groups 2 and 3 had a statistically significant reduction of f at mass and most anthropometric measurements: fat mass according to Da uncey (P < 0.001), birth-weight (P < 0.013), crown-heel length (P < 0. 000), upper- and lower-arm length (P < 0.000) and circumference (P < 0 .002), triceps skinfold and sum of all skinfolds (P < 0.004). Student t-test, between groups 2 and 3, did not evidence intergroup difference s. Conclusions: Exposure of the foetus to passive and/or light active smoking involves a reduction of most auxiological parameters and not o nly weight. As regards body composition, smoking appears to reduce fat mass. The prevention of smoking during pregnancy is therefore extreme ly important, as intrauterine growth seems to be negatively influenced not only by active smoking, but also by passive and light active smok ing.