title: Leucocyte and serum ascorbic acid levels in mothers and their newborn in semi-arid western India.
abstract: Leucocyte ascorbic acid (LAA) and serum ascorbic acid (SAA) have been estimated in 50 pregnant women, their newborn infants, and 14 non-pregnant women living in the semi-arid region of western India. LAA was significantly higher in the newborn as compared to their mothers, the mean values being 35.52 +/- 6.85 and 23.94 +/- 5.84 micrograms/10(8) cells, respectively (P less than 0.01). The sex and birth weight of the infant, however, did not influence its ascorbic acid status. Pregnant women had relatively lower SAA (0.81 +/- 0.22 mg/dl) and LAA (23.94 +/- 5.84 micrograms/10(8) cells) as compared to the matched non-pregnant group (1.01 +/- 0.26 mg/dl and 29.98 +/- 8.45 micrograms/10(8) cells). But despite the semi-arid, draught prone geographical region and the hemodilution which accompanies pregnancy, none of the mothers had a clearly subnormal vitamin C status.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Dr. S.N. Medical College, Jodhpur.
authors.forename: N D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Soni
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kiran
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pramod
authors.forename: L K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Kothari
mesh_terms: D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D001205:Ascorbic Acid