FETAL GROWTH IS ASSOCIATED POSITIVELY WITH MATERNAL INTAKE OF RIBOFLAVIN AND NEGATIVELY WITH MATERNAL INTAKE OF LINOLEIC-ACID

Objective To examine whether dietary factors in pregnancy are related to fetal growth. Design Prospective longitudinal study during pregnanc y; midway through gestation a dietary history was obtained. Subjects/s etting Subjects (n=372) were participants in a study on maternal essen tial fatty acid status during pregnancy who did not have hypertension or any metabolic, cardiovascular, neurological, or renal disorder. Onl y pregnant white women with the intention to give birth in one of the three hospitals involved in the study were included. Ail three hospita ls were located in the southern part of the Netherlands. Statistical a nalyses performed The relation between maternal nutrition and fetal gr owth was evaluated using multiple regression analyses. Results Materna l intake of n-3 fatty acids plus arachidonic acid and of riboflavin we re associated positively with fetal growth. A negative relation was ob served between linoleic acid intake and fetal growth. Applications/con clusions Our data suggest that the maternal diet during pregnancy is a ssociated with fetal growth. Although this relationship ought to be mo re closely investigated, our results imply that much more attention sh ould be paid to an adequate maternal diet during pregnancy, especially with respect to riboflavin and fatty acid intake.