Does trans fatty acid affect low birth weight? A randomised controlled trial.

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Maternal-Fetal Medicine
• Nutritional Science

Background:

• Maternal nutrition critically influences fetal development.
• Trans fatty acids (TFAs) are a potential dietary factor affecting fetal growth.
• Limited data exists on the impact of low-TFA diets on low birth weight (LBW) risk during pregnancy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effect of low trans fatty acids (TFAs) dietary patterns during pregnancy on the risk of low birth weight (LBW).

Main Methods:

• A study involving 800 pregnant women in Tehran, divided into an intervention group (<1% TFA diet) and a control group.
• Dietary intake was assessed using 24-hour recalls across three trimesters.
• Cox proportional-hazards models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HR) for LBW.

Main Results:

• The incidence of LBW was 12% in the intervention group versus 19% in the control group.
• After multivariable adjustment, the HR for incident LBW in the intervention group was 0.65 (95% CI: 0.44-0.96).
• Kaplan-Meier analysis showed a significant difference in LBW incidence between groups, indicating a ~50% risk reduction in the low-TFA group.

Conclusions:

• Adopting a low trans fatty acids (TFAs) dietary pattern during pregnancy is effective in reducing the risk of low birth weight (LBW).
• Incorporating maternal nutrition management focused on TFA content into routine prenatal care is recommended.
• This approach can guide interventions and provide crucial nutritional advice to expectant mothers.