Title: Effect of maternal obesity and passive smoking on neonatal nucleated red blood cells

Authors: Abeer M. Nour ElDin Abd ElBaky, Tarek Mohamad Farid El Shaer, Amany Ezat Elwan, Hanaa Rasmy

Addresses: Department of Pediatric, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt. ' Department of Pediatric, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt. ' Department of Pediatric, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt. ' Department of Clinical Pathology, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt

Abstract: Passive cigarette smoking and obesity during pregnancy are risk factors for adverse outcome in infant. Elevated umbilical cord neonatal nucleated red blood cells (NRBCs) have been suggested as a marker of intrauterine foetal hypoxia. Aim to demonstrate whether maternal risk factors during pregnancy are capable of elevating circulating NRBCs measured at birth. We compared the count of NRBCs in the cord blood in three groups. Group I neonates born to obese mothers, group I) neonates born to mothers exposed to tobacco smoke during pregnancy and control group III. The results reveal that maternal body mass index and infant birth weight were significantly higher in group I (p = < 0.001 and 0.037, respectively). The absolute NRBC count was higher in groups I and II compared to control group (p = 0.02 and 0.01, respectively). In conclusion, the neonates of obese mothers and passive maternal smoking have increased NRBCs at birth.

Keywords: NRBCs; nucleated red blood cells; cigarette smoking; pregnancy; maternal obesity; passive smoking; neonatal red blood cells; intrauterine foetal hypoxia; obese mothers.

DOI: 10.1504/IJFSNPH.2010.032035

International Journal of Food Safety, Nutrition and Public Health, 2010 Vol.3 No.1, pp.57 - 63

Published online: 04 Mar 2010 *

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