Energy and Protein Intake During Pregnancy in Relation to Preterm Birth: A Case Control Study.

OBJECTIVE To find the association of maternal energy and protein intake with preterm birth. DESIGN Case-control study. SETTING Two hospitals at Lucknow in Northern India. PARTICIPANTS Cases (n=350) were defined as mothers (age 18-40 y) of singleton live preterm (<37 wks) neonates. Controls (n=350) were mothers who delivered a singleton neonate, consecutive to enrolled case, after completing 37 weeks of gestation. RESULTS There was a statistically significant lower mean (SD) energy intake [cases 1624 (249) Kcal vs. controls 1911 (341) Kcal; P<0.001] and protein intake [cases 32.1 (6.1) vs. controls 37.2 (7.0); P<0.001] among women who delivered preterm neonates. Maternal energy and protein intake had significant positive correlation with neonatal weight, length, foot length, head circumference and chest circumference. CONCLUSION Lower energy and protein intake during pregnancy is possibly associated with preterm birth.