title: Plasma concentrations of ascorbic acid in parturients from a hospital in Southeast Brazil.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pregnancy is a period characterized by high metabolic requirements and physiological changes in the female organism. During this period, low body stores of vitamins and minerals including antioxidants can have adverse effects on the mother and foetus. This cross-sectional study assessed plasma concentrations of ascorbic acid (AA) in 117 parturients admitted into a university hospital in São Paulo city, Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  The concentrations of AA were determined by the high performance liquid chromatographic method. Data concerning socioeconomic, demographic, obstetric and nutritional characteristics of the parturients were collected by a standardized questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of AA deficiency (<22.7 micromol/L) among the parturients was 30.8%. Mean plasma AA concentrations were lower in single/divorced women (27.84+/-3.48 micromol/L) compared with married/single with partner women (34.78+/-1.85 micromol/L) (p=0.047). Blood AA concentrations were significantly correlated with per capita income (r=0.36, p<0.001) and vitamin C-rich food intake score (r=0.42, p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The high prevalence of hypovitaminosis C detected in this study is probably due to an inadequate intake of foods rich in vitamin C and low income. We alert to the need for increasing the intake of vitamin C-rich foods through educational programs, especially for low income populations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, University of Sao Paulo, Avenida Dr Arnaldo 715, Sao Paulo-SP, CEP-01246-904, Brazil. andmo@usp.br
authors.forename: Andréia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Madruga de Oliveira
authors.forename: Patrícia Helen C
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Rondó
authors.forename: Silmara Silva
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Mastroeni
authors.forename: Julicristie M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Oliveira
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood*; D001206:Ascorbic Acid Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D017533:Marital Status; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D009752:Nutritional Status; D036801:Parturition / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D039401:Prenatal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D014815:Vitamins; D001205:Ascorbic Acid