Fetal growth retardation in cigarette-smoking mothers is not due to decreased maternal food intake

Abstract

To determine whether the fetal growth-retarding effect of maternal cigarette smoking could be due to a lower dietary intake in smokers than in nonsmokers, the energy and nutrient intake of 302 smoking and 234 nonsmoking women were assessed toward the end of the last trimester of pregnancy. The women were from two socioeconomic groups which differed greatly in age, height, education, family income, racial origin, and pregnancy weight gain. Within each group, smokers had significantly smaller infants, but pregnancy weight gain was not different. Daily dietary intake of the smokers was not less than that of the nonsmokers; in fact, for some nutrients it was significantly greater. Therefore, fetal growth retardation due to smoking is not caused by the mother's diminished intake of food.

PIP: With informed consent, the energy and nutrient intake of 302 smoking and 234 nonsmoking women in their last trimester of pregnancy was assessed using 2 methods: 1) calculation of average daily nutrients intake from dietary history, and; 2) recall of all foods and drinks consumed during the previous 24 hours or during a typical day. The infants were measured after birth, and data were computerized and analyzed by standard statistical methods, including multiple regression analysis. The public and the private patients were from 2 socioeconomic groups which differed greatly in age; height; education; family income; racial origin; and pregnancy weight gain. The public patients were younger; had less education; had lower family income, and; 61% were native indians. The infants of smokers had significantly lower birth weights (216 grams less in the public group; 224 grams less in the private group); were shorter, and; in the private group alone, had smaller head circumferences. Gestational age did not differ in both groups. 1-minute Apgar scores were significantly higher in the infants of public smokers. It was concluded that fetal growth retardation in women who smoke during pregnancy is not attributed to a lower intake of food, compared to that of nonsmokers.