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 pregnancy; midway through gestation a dietary history was obtained.

SUBJECTS/SETTING: Subjects (n = 372) were participants in a study on maternal essential fatty acid status during pregnancy who did not have hypertension or any metabolic, cardiovascular, neurological, or renal disorder. Only pregnant white women with the intention to give birth in one of the three hospitals involved in the study were included. All three hospitals were located in the southern part of the Netherlands.

STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED

The relation between maternal nutrition and fetal growth was evaluated using multiple regression analyses.

RESULTS

Maternal intake of n-3 fatty acids plus arachidonic acid and of riboflavin were associated positively with fetal growth. A negative relation was observed between linoleic acid intake and fetal growth.

APPLICATIONS/CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that the maternal diet during pregnancy is associated with fetal growth. Although this relationship ought to be more closely investigated, our results imply that much more attention should be paid to an adequate maternal diet during pregnancy, especially with respect to riboflavin and fatty acid intake.