Comprehensive maternal characteristics associated with birth weight: Bayesian modeling in a prospective cohort study from Iran

In this study, we aimed to determine comprehensive maternal characteristics associated with birth weight using Bayesian modeling.
A total of 526 participants were included in this prospective study. Nutritional status, supplement consumption during the pregnancy, demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, anthropometric measures, physical activity, and pregnancy outcomes were considered as e?ective variables on the birth weight. Bayesian approach of complex statistical models using Markov chain Monte Carlo approach was used for modeling the data considering the real distribution of the response variable.
Tere was strong positive correlation between infant birth weight and the maternal intake of Vitamin C, folic acid, Vitamin B3, Vitamin A, selenium, calcium, iron, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium as micronutrients, and fber and protein as macronutrients based on the 95% high posterior density regions for parameters in the Bayesian model. None of the maternal characteristics had statistical association with birth weight.
Higher maternal macro? and micro?nutrient intake during pregnancy was associated with a lower risk of delivering low birth weight infants. Tese fndings support recommendations to expand intake of nutrients during pregnancy to high level.