Changes in skinfolds and mid-upper arm circumference during pregnancy in Argentine women.

This investigation describes the pattern of changes in mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), triceps, biceps and subscapular skinfold thicknesses during the course of pregnancy, and its relationship with maternal and newborn outcomes. A prospective cohort of 1066 pregnant women were selected in seven different urban regions in Argentina. Measurements of MUAC were carried out at 16, 28 and 36 gestational weeks. In a subsample of 488 women, triceps, biceps and subscapular skinfold thicknesses were measured. Mean total increase in subscapular, tricipital and bicipital skinfolds from 16 to 36 weeks of gestation were 4.5, 3.6 and 2.6 mm, respectively. MUAC showed a mean increase of 1.7 cm in the same period. Overweight or obese women at the start of pregnancy had lower increases in all measurements compared with women with normal or low body mass index. Maternal anthropometry was related to birthweight; women who gave birth to infants of less than 3000 g had lower average values in all measurements than those who had normal birthweight infants. LMS curves for MUAC and skinfolds by gestational age are presented, which can be used as a reference to assess maternal nutrition status during pregnancy. MUAC, tricipital and subscapular skinfold for gestational age curves are proposed for monitoring maternal nutritional status during pregnancy. MUAC cut-off points of 24.5, 25.5 and 26.5 cm for 16, 28 and 36 weeks of gestation, respectively, are also proposed as a proxy to detect low birthweight.

Ingesta nutricional en jugadores adolescentes de fútbol de elite en Argentina / Nutritional intake of adolescent elite soccer players in Argentina

Introducción y objetivos: La ingesta nutricional del futbolista adolescente es importante para garantizar el crecimiento y el rendimiento deportivo adecuados. Las recomendaciones nutricionales para deportistas jóvenes son debatibles, y no existen datos sobre la alimentación de jugadores juveniles argentinos. El propósito de este estudio es describir la ingesta nutricional de jugadores de divisiones inferiores de un club de fútbol de Argentina, establecer el estado nutricional-antropométrico y comparar las diferencias entre los deportistas y una muestra no-deportista. Métodos: Se tomaron medidas antropométricas y bioquímicas, y se realizaron encuestas nutricionales,en 91 jugadores juveniles de un club de fútbol de Buenos Aires y en 198 adolescentes del proyecto Deporte Social.Resultados: No se hallaron valores antropométrico-nutricionales anormales en los futbolistas,aunque el 8,9% de los adolescentes no-deportistas tenía sobrepeso. La ingesta energética promedio de los jugadores fue de 3.520±961 kcal; con aportes de 16±3% de proteínas, 51±11%de hidratos de carbono y 31±10% de lípidos. La energía fue provista por almidones (33%),carne (17%), grasas (15%), lácteos (12%), frutas y verduras (14%), y azúcares (8%). Los jugadorescomían más carne, lácteos, frutas, verduras y grasas que sus pares no-deportistas, aunque menosalmidones y azúcares (p < 0,05), y mostraron valores superiores de hemoglobina y menores de colesterol (p < 0,05). Conclusiones: Los jugadores poseen un estado antropométrico-nutricional adecuado, y la ingesta nutricional es superior en proteínas y lípidos e inferior en hidratos de carbono a las recomendaciones para estos adolescentes deportistas. Comparado con jóvenes no-deportistas,ingieren alimentos de mejor calidad nutricional(AU)

Introduction and objectives: The nutritional consumption of adolescent footballer is importantto ensure growth and a suitable sports performance. Nutritional recommendations for youngathletes are controversial, and there are no data on the diet of young Argentinian footballplayers. The objective of this study is to describe the nutritional ingestion of footballer in thelower division of a football club in Argentina, to establish the nutritional-anthropometric statusand compare the differences between athletes and non-athletes.Methods: Anthropometric and biochemistry measurements were performed, and nutritionalquestionnaires were completed by 91 young football players of a Buenos Aires football club andin 198 adolescents in a Social Sport Project.Results: No abnormal anthropometric-nutritional values were found in the footballer, although8.9% of the non-athlete adolescents were overweight. The average energy ingested by thefootballers was 3520±961 Kcal; which included 16%±3 proteins, 51%±11 carbohydrates and31%±10 lipids. The energy was provided by starches (33%), meat (17%), fats (15%), milk products(12%), fruit and vegetables (14%), and sugars (8%). The football players ate more meat, milkproducts, fruit, vegetables and fats than their non-athlete peers, although less starches andsugars (P < .05), and they had higher haemoglobin and lower cholesterol values (P < .05).Conclusions: The footballers have an adequate anthropometric-nutritional status and nutritionalingestion is higher in proteins and lipids and lower in carbohydrates to those recommendedfor adolescent athletes. Compared to young non-athletes, they consume food of a better nutritionalquality(AU)

Reference charts for weight gain and body mass index during pregnancy obtained from a healthy cohort.

OBJECTIVE: To create reference charts for weight gain and body mass index (BMI) in pregnancy derived from longitudinal data obtained in a representative sample of the Argentinean population. METHODS: A prospective cohort of 1439 healthy pregnant women was selected from antenatal clinics in seven different urban regions in Argentina. Serial anthropometric measurements were made at weeks 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36 and in the last pre-natal control. Centile curves of body weight and BMI by gestational age were developed using the LMS method. RESULTS: Mean weight gain at 38 weeks of gestation was 11.9 +/- 4.4 kg. There were no differences in total weight gain between women who enter pregnancy with low, normal or overweight; only those women with a pre-pregnancy BMI in the range of obesity showed a significantly lower weight gain (10.2 +/- 4.8 kg). At 12 weeks of pregnancy, BMI values of the 10th, 50th and 90th centiles were 19.3, 22.8 and 29.0, and at 38 weeks these values were 23.3, 27.4 and 33.8, respectively. CONCLUSION: This BMI for gestational age chart, based on women who delivered normal birth weight infants and processed with modern statistical methods, represents an improvement in pre-natal care monitoring.