Fasting blood glucose and newborn birth weight of non- diabetic Sudanese women [version 1; peer review: 1 approved, 1 approved with reservations]

Background Although risk factors for abnormal birth weight has been extensively investigated, whether the physiological range of glucose tolerance affects birth weight in non-diabetic mothers needs to be verified by further research. Objectives To assess the effect of maternal sociodemographic characteristics, obstetric and anthropometric measurements, fasting and 2-hour blood glucose levels on birth weight. Methods One hundred and thirty four women were followed from early pregnancy until delivery at Saad Abualila Hospital, Khartoum, Sudan. Fasting and 2-hour glucose levels following administration of 75 g oral glucose was performed in the third trimester. Association between birth weight and maternal sociodemographic characteristics, obstetric and anthropometric measurements, haemoglobin, fasting and 2-hour blood glucose levels were assessed by linear regression analysis. Results The mean (SD) birth weight was 3127.7 (480.0) g, while the 10 th and 90 th centile were 2500 and 3800 g, respectively. There was no significant difference in the birth weight between male (n=73) and female (n=61) newborns [3167.8 (545.0) vs 3068.9 (384.0) g, P= 0.196]. Likewise there was no significant difference in the birth weight of newborns born to primipara and multipara mothers [3101.7 (529.0) g vs 3151.4 (432.0) g, P= 0.551]. Linear regression analysis demonstrated significant association between fasting blood glucose and birth weight (20 g, P = 0.028). None of the other maternal/fetal characteristics was associated with birth weight, including maternal age, body mass index, gravidity, weight gain during pregnancy, interpregnancy interval, history of miscarriage, haemoglobin level, blood pressure, fetal gender and gestational age. Conclusion In this study fasting blood glucose was found to be predictor of birth weight among neonates of non-diabetic Sudanese mothers.