Concentrations of ascorbic acid in the plasma of pregnant smokers and nonsmokers and their newborns.
A cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the differences in vitamin C status of Brazilian pregnant women smokers and nonsmokers and their respective newborn babies, and to assess the prevalence of hypovitaminosis C among these two groups of women. The study involved 127 pregnant women, 40 pregnant smokers and 87 pregnant nonsmokers, admitted to a maternity hospital in São Paulo, Brazil. Data concerning the pregnant women's socioeconomic, demographic, obstetric, and nutritional characteristics were collected, as well as data concerning the newborns' anthropometry and Apgar scores. A strongly significant correlation (p < 0.001) was found between the concentrations of ascorbic acid (AA) in both pregnant smokers (r = 0.77) and pregnant nonsmokers (r = 0.61) and their respective umbilical cords. The mean umbilical AA concentration was significantly higher than the meanAA concentration in pregnant women (92.05 +/- 41.13 vs. 33.39 +/- 18.25 micromol/L, p < 0.001). It was observed that the mean AA was significantly lower for the newborns (p = 0.03) and pregnant women (p = 0.02) from the smoking group. Forty percent (40%) of the smokers and 27% of the nonsmokers presented hypovitaminosis C. We suggest an increase in the consumption of fruits and vegetables by pregnant women, especially the smokers.
Madruga de Oliveira
Andréia
A
Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 715 -CEP: 01246-904, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. andmo@usp.br
Rondó
Patricia Helen de Carvalho
PH
Barros
Silvia Berlanga de Moraes
SB
D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D001206:Ascorbic Acid Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011247:Pregnancy; D012907:Smoking / Q000097:blood*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014675:Vegetables
D001205:Ascorbic Acid