Abstract

SEVILA, R.; ARZE, M.; ROJAS, O.  and  MORALES, J.. Relationship between BMI and nutritional and immune status of the dyad mother - child. Gac Med Bol [online]. 2009, vol.32, n.2, pp.06-10. ISSN 1012-2966.

Several diseases in adults and children are incubated during pregnancy. To assess the impact of nutritional status of the mothers and the nutritional and immune status of the children at birth, a nutritional assessment was measured by the body mass index (BMI). This was correlated with nutritional status and immunity response at birth. 1,200 mothers were surveyed, and 754 children and mothers were admitted to study with inclusion criteria: twelve hours of birth, mother-child health, 35-40 weeks of gestation, normal maternal hemoglobin, normal single pregnancy; exclusion criteria: mothers with anemia, infections, congenital anomalies, cesarean deliver, rejection by the mother. BMI is measured by Atalah (“Abacus BMI nutritional”CRIN), weight, height, cephalic perimeter, APGAR, and gestational age by Dubowitz. In 254 newborns, the size of the thymus gland was also measured by ultrasound. There was a strong, positive correlation of weight, height, and head circumference at birth with the mothers BMI (p <0.01); 21.1% of the children had close to 3kg of mothers thinner, 44.1% were normal, 25.9% were overweight (3,7kg.) and 8.6% were around 4Kg, of mother obese. The largest area of the thymus was found in children with mother´s having a normal BMI compared to mother´s having with a low or high BMI. These results suggest the relationship immunity-nutrition and propose evaluation to BMI during pregnancy.

Keywords : Pregnancy; Nutrition; immunity; newborn.

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