Effect of a milk-based food supplement on maternal nutritional status and fetal growth in underweight Chilean women
Mardones-Santander, F.; Rosso, P.; Stekel, A.; Ahumada, E.; Llaguno, S.; Pizarro, F.; Salinas, J.; Vial, I.; Walter, T.
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 47(3): 413-419
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9165 PMID: 3279745 DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/47.3.413Document Number: 358278
The effects on maternal and infant weight gain and maternal iron status of powdered milk (PUR) and a milk-based fortified product (V-N) were compared in underweight women attending prenatal clinics in Santiago, Chile. All pregnant women attending 9 prenatal clinics of the Southeast Health Area, over 18 years old, parity 0-5, nonsmoking, nonalcohol-consuming and underweight (95% of standard) joined the study. They were given either the PUR, powdered milk with 26% milkfat, or V-N, (Vita-Nova Mother-food, Melkunie Holland, Woerden) which contained micronutrients and added vegetable fat, as mandated by law. Those who failed to consume supplements were relegated to the control group. The V-N group had greater weight gain (12.29 vs 11.31 kg, p0.05), mean birth weights (3178 vs 3105 g, p0.05) than the PUR group. Iron status, shown by significantly higher mean hematocrit, hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, transferrin saturation and plasma ferritin levels near term, was also better in the V-N group than in the PUR. Other significant differences in favor of the V-N supplement were number of intrauterine growth retarded infants and birth weights under 3001 g. The V-N group had greater fluid retention: the import of this is unknown. The infants of non-compliers had birthweights 258 and 335 g lower than the women consuming PUR and V-N, respectively. The babies of V-N mothers gained 74 g/kg maternal weight gain, higher than many previously reported increments, perhaps due to the micronutrients in the supplement.