Association of maternity formula supplementation during pregnancy with small for gestational age birth in Chinese newborns

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the association between maternity formula supplementation and small for gestational age (SGA) status in Chinese newborns. Methods: Data were from a population-based cross-sectional survey conducted in Shaanxi, Northwest China between August and December 2013. A total of 27 780 women pregnant with singletons and 356 with twins were included in this survey. Information on use of maternity formulas fortified with vitamins, folic acid, pantothenic acid, calcium, iron, zinc, and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) was collected. SGA was defined as birthweight <10th percentile of fetal growth. Generalized linear models and estimating equation models were used to estimate crude odds ratios (ORs) or adjusted ORs with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for SGA. Results: The rate of maternity formula supplementation during the entire pregnancy was 13.0% in the overall population. There was no significant association between maternal formula supplementation during pregnancy and the risk of total SGA birth (OR: 1.00; 95% CI, 0.90-1.11; P = 0.950). However, maternity formula supplementation during pregnancy was related to a lower risk of SGA for twins (OR: 0.49; 95% CI, 0.31-0.80; P = 0.004), twin A (OR: 0.50; 95% CI, 0.25-0.98; P = 0.045), and twin B (OR: 0.48; 95% CI, 0.25-0.95; P = 0.034). Furthermore, maternity formula supplementation during the first trimester was inversely associated with the risk of SGA birth of twins (OR: 0.32; 95% CI, 0.15-0.65; P = 0.002). Conclusions: No significant association was observed between maternity formula supplementation and total SGA birth. However, women supplemented with maternal formula during pregnancy, especially during the first trimester, may have a reduced risk of SGA birth of twins.

Automated summary

This study aimed to explore the association between maternity formula supplementation and small for gestational age (SGA) status in Chinese newborns. The results showed that there was no significant association between maternal formula supplementation during pregnancy and the risk of total SGA birth. However, for twins, maternity formula supplementation during pregnancy was associated with a lower risk of SGA birth, especially when supplemented during the first trimester.