ИСТИНА

We analyzed regional average body weight at birth, monetary income and food related data in 42 regions of the Russian Federation for the period 2006-10. The regional statistics were obtained from the database of the Social Insurance Fund of the Russian Federation (annual average body weight at birth), and the Federal State Statistics Service (income and food related data). The regions where the percentage of ethnic Russians exceeded 85% were chosen to participate in the study. Despite the economic indicators (monetary income, level of inflation and total food expenditure) and food composition had been changing during the study period, the national average weight at birth had remained stable. The regional statistics do not reveal any connection of birth weight with either per-capita monetary income, total calorie intake, or the daily consumption of each of the major nutrients. We suppose, that is natural under conditions when dietary energy supply is sufficient in general. Birth weight, however, significantly correlate (p < 0.05) to the proportion of the animal-derived proteins, fats and dietary energy (r = 0.52, 0.4 and 0.5 respectively). The fact testifies that, even when caloric intake is sufficient, the quality of nutrition, in particular, the proportion of foods of animal origin, is essential for the status of the newborn.