Abstract
Objective: The aim of this study was to see the relationship between food intake pattern and its effect on birth weight.
Subjects and Methods: 1771 Saudi pregnant women who were admitted for delivery at the government maternity hospitals in Riyadh city of Saudi Arabia who gave birth to singleton live-born babies were interviewed immediately after delivery.
Results: During the pregnancy the average energy and protein intakes were 1815.7 +/- 624Cal. and 86 +/- 30.9g, respectively. Intakes of vitamins A and B12 supply 90% and 92% of RDA for each nutrient, respectively. The intake of 94%, 91% and 90% of women were below 85% of RDA for folate, iron and vitamin B1, respectively.
Conclusions: Mothers of heavier infants have significantly higher average intake of most nutrients. Intake level of individual nutrients correlates significantly with NAR index which parallel the findings for individual nutrient intakes and was the only variable in the regression equation calculated.