title: [Vitamin A levels among nonsmoking mothers of children with orofacial clefts married to a smoker].
abstract: Passive smokers have lower plasma levels of pro-vitamin A (beta-carotene) than do unexposed nonsmokers. Maternal insufficiency of vitamin A (retinol) during pregnancy results in congenital abnormalities in the offspring. Our aim was to examine vitamin A concentrations in passive smoking and non-smoking mothers of children with isolated orofacial clefts.
  
  
  METHODS
  Plasma samples from 68 never smoking mothers and 15 non-smoking mothers married to a smoker (> or = 20 cigarettes/day) were analyzed for retinol. All participants answered a questionnaire about socio-demographic characteristics and lifestyle behaviors. Retinol concentrations were measured by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Passive smokers have significantly lower plasma retinol concentrations (1.86 micromol/L vs. 2.21 micromol/L; p<0.05) and ratio of plasma retinol to plasma total cholesterol levels (0.33 micromol/mmol vs. 0.48 micromol/mmol; p<0.05) than never smokers. Women married to a smoker had also lower socioeconomic status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Polish nonsmoking mothers of children with orofacial clefts married to a heavy smoker are probably at increased risk to have low plasma retinol levels. Usefulness of higher periconceptional supplementation with vitamin A in that subset of women requires further research.
authors.affiliation: Klinika Pediatrii Instytutu Matki i Dziecka w Warszawie. khozyasz@alpha.net.pl
authors.forename: Kamil K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Hozyasz
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chełchowska
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood*; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution; D014801:Vitamin A