American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 14, 269-279, Copyright © 1964 by The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc.

Alterations in Serum Proteins During Pregnancy and Lactation in Urban and Rural Populations in Guatemala

¹ From the Department of Nutrition, School of Hygiene, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada, and the Institute of Nutrition of Central America and Panama (INCAP), Guatemala, Central America

In one urban (middle and upper socioeconomic status) and two rural (lower socioeconomic status) communities in Guatemala 175 pregnant, lactating and nonpregnant women were examined. Dietary studies revealed a moderate total protein intake but a low intake of animal protein in the women in the rural area. Hemoglobin, hematocrit, urinary urea nitrogen:creatinine ratio and serum proteins (fractionated by the paper and starch gel electrophoretic technics) showed alterations attributable to the geographic area, socioeconomic status or protein intake. Alterations in these biochemical parameters induced by pregnancy were not affected by the area conditions (or protein intake), with the exception of a higher intensity and prevalence of the starch gel electrophoretic "pregnancy zone" in the rural areas. Examination of the serum of 186 pregnant women in Toronto revealed that this zone increased with the stage of gestation and the number of previous pregnancies and/or maternal age. The nutritional significance of these alterations in the "pregnancy zone" is not known.

The absence of other group characteristic effects of multiple pregnancies or prolonged lactation which could be attributed to differences in protein intake suggest the following: (1) nutritional and physiologic adaptations exist to minimize the need for additional protein; (2) the protein intake, although below recommended levels, was adequate to meet any increased needs of pregnancy and lactation; or (3) the methods employed were not sufficiently sensitive to detect the effects of a dietary inadequacy.