Impacts of maternal age on colostrum fat composition in a town in São Paulo State

• Grant number: 16/21117-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2017
• End date: April 30, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Nursing - Obstetrical Nursing
• Principal Investigator: Glilciane Morceli
• Grantee: Lucas Lima de Moraes
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde (FCSA). Universidade do Oeste Paulista (UNOESTE). Presidente Prudente , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: Pregnant adolescents and women of advanced age (e 35 years old) are in general more susceptible to adverse perinatal outcomes, such as morbidity and mortality. In adolescence, the body is too biologically immature to support maternal growth and development, causing adverse perinatal outcomes for the baby, such as low birth weight (LBW, <2500g), risks of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), micronutrient deficiency and a high rate of preterm birth (<37 weeks of pregnancy). In women of advanced age (over 35 years old), the number of spontaneous and induced miscarriages increases, as well as the risk of perinatal mortality, frequency of low vitality newborns, LBW, preterm birth and neonates classified as small for gestational age (SGA). Although gestational and perinatal outcomes are well described in these groups, studies on the effects of maternal age on the chemical properties of colostrum, such as acidity and fat content, are scarce. Colostrum, the first milk secretion produced, contains the nutrients that are necessary for newborn development and is composed primarily of fats, proteins, carbohydrates and vitamins. Objectives: To compare colostrum acidity and fat content in adolescent and older nursing mothers and describe their gestational and perinatal characteristics. Methods: This cross-sectional study will include adolescent and older nursing mothers and their respective newborns treated at the maternity of the President Prudente Regional Hospital from December 2016 to May 2017. Colostrum samples will be collected by manual expression within 72 h postpartum for acidity and fat determination. Personal and behavioral data of the mothers, obstetrical and family history and information on the current gestation will be recorded according to a protocol established for the study. Data on pregnancy and perinatal outcomes will be collected from the subjects' medical records. After being properly informed about the purposes of the study, willing participants will sign an informed consent form. The statistical tests will be selected according to data distribution, with the significance level set at 0.05. (AU)