Fetal growth in different racial groups.

Abstract

SUMMARY Three racial groups of mothers and their newborn babies-North European 75, Negro 75, and 'Indian' Asian 37--were matched for parity, gestational age, sex, maternal age, maternal smoking habits, and social class. Multiple anthropometric measurements, including skinfold thickness, limb circumferences, and various linear measurements were made on the mothers and their infants to determine the effects of race and smoking on fetal size. Indian-Asian mothers, though shorter and lighter than Europeans and Negroes, had similar skinfold thickness and weight: height2 ratios and gained as much weight during pregnancy. Their infants, however, were lighter than the others, and had smaller head and limb circumferences, although their linear measurements were the same. Negro and European infants were almost identical in size. We found no effect on any of the fetal measurements which could be attributed to smoking.

Vitamin D supplements in pregnant Asian women: effects on calcium status and fetal growth.

“…2 Osteomalacia is a well-recognised complication of pregnancy in Asians living in the United Kingdom.3 Asian women appear to be particularly at risk of vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy, since low concentrations of 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25-OHD) are found at this time.2 4-6 Possible neonatal consequences of this deficiencyincludehypocalcaemia, 7 craniotabes,6 and frank rickets.' Since the risks to the fetus of subclinical maternal vitamin D deficiency are not clearly defined and since birth size of Indian Asians in Britain is less than that of north Europeans and Negroes,9 10 we have undertaken a trial, using calciferol (ergocalciferol) supplements, to investigate the effects of the vitamin on maternal and infant calcium homoeostasis and fetal growth.…”

The Normal Anthropometric Measurements for Healthy Full Term Newborns in Najaf City.

“…Genetic difference exists among races regarding growth and body composition [8] . Infants of mothers of Asian origin are lighter and shorter than those of European and North American white mothers; this may be really the result of variation in maternal or other environmental factors [9] . The body shape, proportion, composition and metabolic rate of the fetus and infant differ from those of the fully grown adult, the fetus accretes calcium, phosphorus and iron in the last trimester although ossification of the fetal skeleton begins at a weight of 700-900 gm, fat is laid down at weight over 2600 gm and from birth the neonate continues to increase its fat stores until late infancy [10] .…”

“…The epidemiological factors are: sex of the baby, age of the mother, social class, education, ethnicity, race and occupation of the mother. Medical factors include maternal diseases (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, urinary tract infection), twining, under nutrition and smoking [9] . Based on their history,10-20 % of pregnant women can be identified as high risk; nearly half of all perinatal mortality and morbidity is associated with these pregnancies.…”

Ethnic variation in the size of infant at birth

“…Some of the differences in birth weight can be accounted for as a result of variations in maternal nutrition, smoking, congenital abnormalities, or other environmental factors, but there are studies indicating that ethnicity exerts an independent popu P ations. Birth size is also of interest to influence on birth weight (Alvear and Brooke, 1978;Rooth, 1980). In the United States, regardless of socioeconomic status, blacks have a consistently hi her incidence oflow birth weight (<2,500 g)?LBW) than do whites (Taffel, 1980).…”