Studies on the basal metabolic rate--pregnant and lactating women in Varanasi
De, A.K.; Nagchaudhuri, J.
Indian Journal of Medical Research 63(4): 613-616
1975
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-5340 PMID: 1213759 Document Number: 88645
Basal metabolic rate was measured in 100 pregnant and 50 lactating women 18 to 35 years old. Half the pregnant women were in the second and third trimesters, groups A and B. Half the lactating women were in the first and second three months of lactation, groups C and D. Obvious diseases and anaemia were not present in the subjects who came from a similar socio-economic group. The mean bodyweight and basal metabolic rate of groups A, B, C and D were 45.3 kg and 38.3 plus or minus 0.45 kcal/m2 h; 50.5 and 40.6 plus or minus 0.52; 43.6 and 34.9 plus or minus 0.48; 43.0 and 36.5 plus or minus 72. The difference between the mean BMR of pregnant and lactating women was significant. It was suggested that the fall in BMR and bodyweight, especially in earlier lactation, indicated constraint in energy and protein intakes.