Examining Effect of Multivitamin Intake and Socio-economic States on Birth Weight of Infants in Pregnant Women with singleton pregnancies

Maternal nutrition is one of the most important factors affecting birth weight of infants. Vitamin is very important in this regard. Pregnant women’s need to multivitamin as well as their weight gain can lead to weight gain and birth weight in infants. Although body weight gain is desirable in most individuals with lower BMI, this matter could be problematic in those with high BMI. In this study, effects of multivitamin intake in women with singleton pregnancies and various socioeconomic states were measured. Moreover, the effect of multivitamin intake on birth weight was assessed. In addition, the effect of socio-economic states on these two variables was investigated. This study was conducted on 150 pregnant women from 17th week of pregnancy and onwards. The subjects were randomly divided into two groups. Then, their personal characteristics as well as socioeconomic states were recorded. From 17th week of pregnancy to 37th week of pregnancy, one group was prescribed placebo while multivitamin was given to the second group on daily bases. By 37th week of pregnancy, prenatal and postnatal weight gains of women were recorded. Obtained data were analyzed using SAS statistical software. The difference between means of above-mentioned variables was assessed using t-test; moreover, the means were compared using LS mean. In this study, the effect of variables under study on abovementioned variables was assessed with the help of analysis of general linear model (GLM). Pearson correlation coefficients of the variables were measured. Then, the effect of each variable on birth weight of infants was assessed using multiple regression analysis. Birth weight of infants in the experimental and control groups were respectively as 3.31 and 3.28 kg. The difference was not statistically significant. In analysis of general linear model, the effect of birth weight on paternal education, housing status and age was significant (p<0.05). In comparing the means, the highest birth weight was observed in the group whose fathers had bachelor degree or higher than that (p<0.01). Birth weight of infant whose parents had private house was also significantly higher (p<0.01). Pearson correlation of the trait under study and other variables were also evaluates in which the correlations between maternal BMI and weight gain and spouse's education and infants’ birth weight were significant. The most accurate multiple regression equation for estimating infant’s birth weight based on maternal age and BMI was obtained. Based on these results, multivitamin intake did not have any effect on infant’s birth weight. Moreover, parental socio-economic states had a significant effect on infant’s birth weight. The best equation to estimate this trait using variables such as maternal age and BMI was obtained.