Umbilical cord blood nutrients in low birth weight babies in relation to birth weight & gestational age

Low birth weight (LBW) babies are a vulnerable group and represent two outcomes--preterm birth (preterm LBW) and term with intrauterine growth retardation (term LBW). LBW babies are considered to have low nutrient reserve, but the extent of deficiency as compared to the normal babies and the differences between preterm LBW and term LBW are unclear. This study was carried out to look at key anthropometric, biochemical and clinical (ABC) parameters of LBW babies, both preterm and term, in comparison to a control group of term normal weight babies.

A group of 500 babies was selected at birth from a tertiary care teaching hospital and categorized into LBW (n = 251) with preterm LBW (n = 59), term LBW (n = 192) and term controls (n = 249). Two controls were dropped as tests could not be performed in the available cord blood sample. Key anthropometric and biochemical parameters were measured. Socio-economic status, age, parity, height and pre-delivery haemoglobin of the mothers were also recorded.

The maternal characteristics were comparable in the three groups. Socio-economically, majority of them belonged to lower middle or upper lower class (Class III and IV) representing the non affluent. All the anthropometric measurements and nutrients measured namely total protein, albumin, cholesterol, triglycerides, calcium, magnesium, zinc and iron were significantly lower in LBW babies compared to term control babies. These values were lowest in preterm LBW followed by term LBW. Total iron binding capacity (TIBC) showed inverse association with iron. Some of the babies including control babies had protein, albumin, calcium and iron below the normal range and mean albumin, calcium and iron levels were below the normal range in all the three subsets.

Preterm and term LBW babies are born with significantly lower nutrient reserves at birth compared to term control babies. Normal weight babies from the non affluent sections also have low nutrients especially albumin, calcium and iron. As these levels are liable to be further lowered by recurrent infections and inappropriate feeding habits, nutritional surveillance, extra feeding and supplements like calcium and iron are recommended for such vulnerable babies to promote optimum growth and to prevent deficiencies. This is important as currently, there are no clear or uniform recommendations for extra feeding and nutrient supplements to LBW babies and no supplements other than exclusive breast feeding are recommended for term normal birth weight babies. Extra nutritional inputs for LBW and selected non affluent babies along with care of the prospective and prenatal mothers for ensuring adequate transfer of nutrients to the offspring seem necessary. Such interventions can be integrated with the existing health care programmes to reach all the beneficiaries.