Long-term energy balance in child-bearing Gambian women.

The energy intake of 143 pregnant and lactating Gambian women was measured prospectively each week for a year. Anthropometric, birth weight, and breast milk output measurements were also obtained. The average energy intakes (+/- SE) during the dry and wet seasons respectively were: pregnancy, 1483 +/- 22 and 1417 +/- 41 kcal/day; lactation (1st trimester), 1773 +/- 31 and 1474 +/- 42 kcal/day; lactation (subsequent trimesters), 1662 +/- 16 and 1413 +/- 37 kcal/day. Pregnant women gained 1.4 kg body weight per month in the dry season, but only 0.4 kg in the wet season. Lactating women gained weight in the dry season and lost weight in the wet season. Maternal nutritional status did not deteriorate with increasing parity. Mean birth weights (+/- SE) were: 2.94 +/- 0.07 and 2.78 +/- 0.11 kg in dry and wet seasons, respectively. Breast milk output and quality and early infant growth were close to values from well-nourished communities during the dry season, but deteriorated markedly during the wet season. Wet season energy intakes were clearly inadequate, but these results indicate that, despite being low by international standards, the dry season intake was compatible with a good lactational performance. Except for a somewhat low birth weight, which is partly explained by small maternal stature, progress during pregnancy was also remarkably normal during the dry season.

[1]  L. Barness Maternal Nutrition During Pregnancy and Lactation , 1982 .

[2]  J J Cunningham,et al.  A reanalysis of the factors influencing basal metabolic rate in normal adults. , 1980, The American journal of clinical nutrition.

[3]  A. Prentice,et al.  DIETARY SUPPLEMENTATION OF GAMBIAN NURSING MOTHERS AND LACTATIONAL PERFORMANCE , 1980, The Lancet.

[4]  Y. Schutz,et al.  Energy expenditures and food intakes of lactating women in Guatemala. , 1980, The American journal of clinical nutrition.

[5]  E. Gouba,et al.  Duration of activities and energy expenditure of female farmers in dry and rainy seasons in Upper-Volta , 1980, British Journal of Nutrition.

[6]  Paul Aa,et al.  Seasonal variations in dietary intake in pregnant and lactating women in a rural Gambian village. , 1980 .

[7]  A. Paul,et al.  Variation in the composition of Gambian foods: the importance of water in relation to energy and protein content. , 1980 .

[8]  A. Prentice,et al.  Variations in maternal dietary intake, birthweight and breast-milk output in the Gambia. , 1980 .

[9]  D. Jelliffe,et al.  Human Milk in the Modern World , 1978 .

[10]  A. Prentice,et al.  FACTORS INFLUENCING LACTATION PERFORMANCE IN RURAL GAMBIAN MOTHERS , 1978, The Lancet.

[11]  D. Calloway,et al.  Basal metabolic rate and work energy expenditure of mature, pregnant women. , 1976, Journal of the American Dietetic Association.

[12]  R. Klein,et al.  Repercussions of lactation on nutritional status of mother and infant. , 1975 .

[13]  N G Norgan,et al.  The energy and nutrient intake and the energy expenditure of 204 New Guinean adults. , 1974, Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences.

[14]  L M Dubowitz,et al.  Clinical assessment of gestational age in the newborn infant. , 1970, The Journal of pediatrics.

[15]  W. Billewicz,et al.  THE ASSESSMENT OF FETAL GROWTH , 1968, The Journal of obstetrics and gynaecology of the British Commonwealth.

[16]  J. Durnin,et al.  Energy, work and leisure. , 1967 .

[17]  D. Jelliffe,et al.  Notes on Ecologic Malnutrition in the New Guinea Highlands , 1964, Clinical pediatrics.

[18]  D. Miller,et al.  A ballistic bomb calorimeter , 1959, British Journal of Nutrition.