Maternal fat intake ( n = 25 ) might be associated with gestational weight gain as suggested by observational studies , although the direction of this association might depend on specific types of fat ( e.g. , saturated fat ) .
Macronutrient intake was not consistently associated with the prevalence of inadequate or excessive gestational weight gain .
CONCLUSIONS The current literature provides evidence that energy intake is associated with gestational weight gain , but the roles of individual macronutrients are inconsistent .
BACKGROUND  Abnormal gestational weight gain is associated with unfavorable pregnancy outcomes .
Several risk factors have been identified , but the effect of macronutrient intake during pregnancy on gestational weight gain has not been systematic ally evaluated in both high-income countries and low- and middle-income countries .
Dietary composition of pregnant women is related to size of the baby at birth.
The fetal origins theory of adult disease suggests that term infants who are small for their gestational age have an increased susceptibility to chronic disease in adulthood as a consequence of physiologic adaptations to undernutrition during fetal life . Consistent evidence for an influence of women 's dietary composition during pregnancy on growth of their babies is lacking , despite robust effects in animal experiments . We undertook a prospect i ve observational study of 557 women aged 18 - 41 y , living in Adelaide , South Australia .  Diet was assessed in early and late pregnancy using an FFQ . In early pregnancy , medians for energy intake , the proportion of energy derived from protein and from carbohydrate were 9.0 MJ , 17 and 48 % , respectively . In late pregnancy the corresponding medians were 9.2 MJ , 16 and 49 % . In early pregnancy , the percentage of energy derived from protein was positively associated with birth weight ( P = 0.02 ) and placental weight ( P = 0.07 ) , independently of energy intake and weight gain during pregnancy , and after adjustment for potential confounders , including maternal age , parity , and smoking . Effects were stronger among women ( n = 429 ) who had reliable data , based on prespecified criteria including the plausibility of dietary data when referenced against estimated energy expenditure . In addition , for this subgroup , the percentage of energy from carbohydrate in early and late pregnancy was negatively associated with ponderal index of the baby , and a specific effect of protein from dairy sources was identified . These data support the proposition that maternal dietary composition has an effect on fetal growth . Maternal diet in Western societies may therefore be important for the long-term health of the child
Maternal fat intake ( n = 25 ) might be associated with gestational weight gain as suggested by observational studies , although the direction of this association might depend on specific types of fat ( e.g. , saturated fat ) .
Macronutrient intake was not consistently associated with the prevalence of inadequate or excessive gestational weight gain .
CONCLUSIONS The current literature provides evidence that energy intake is associated with gestational weight gain , but the roles of individual macronutrients are inconsistent .
BACKGROUND  Abnormal gestational weight gain is associated with unfavorable pregnancy outcomes .
Several risk factors have been identified , but the effect of macronutrient intake during pregnancy on gestational weight gain has not been systematic ally evaluated in both high-income countries and low- and middle-income countries .