The role of maternal social factors and antenatal events in determination of the serum retinol in normal full term infant.
BACKGROUND
The nutritional status of mothers affects their babies. However, the factors responsible for the control of fetal retinol levels are unknown. This study evaluates the role of maternal social factors in the determination of fetal serum retinol.


METHODS
Consecutive mothers with normal pregnancy as judged by obstetrician (excluding those with sepsis and medical illnesses) were recruited. The maternal social factors and antenatal history were determined using questionnaires and the retinol level of the cord blood of the neonates were estimated using the high performance liquid chromatography.


RESULTS
There were 106 mothers (ages between 21 and 39 years, mean of 26 years) and neonates, made up of 57 females and 49 males with gestational age 30-45 weeks, mean of 373 weeks). The range of the neonatal serum retinol level was 0.12 ig/L--1.57 ig/L, with a mean of 0.94 ig/L (SD = 0.17) and median value of 0.98 ig/L. The mean serum retinol in the females was 0.94 ig/L while males were 1.13 ig/L. Ihe mean serum retinol according to the socioeconomic classes were high (I and II) 1.2 ig/L, middle (III) 1.1 ig/L and low (IV and V) 0.9 ig/L. The mean fetal serum retinol among the mothers with fever in pregnancy (31/106), incomplete vaccination in pregnancy (17/106) and neonates with low birthweight (<2.5 Kg) was 0.9 ig/L. Bivariate analysis revealed significant correlation between the mean serum retinol and the socioeconomic class (P = 0.038), but there was no correlation with maternal age (P = 0.7), sex (P = 0.07), gestational age (P = 0.39), birth weight (P = 0.7), maternal tetanus vaccination (P = 0.28), fever (P = 0.64) and antenatal care (P = 0.97).


CONCLUSIONS
Socioeconomic status of the mothers was a significant factor in the determination of neonatal serum retinol level, suggesting that maternal retinol supplementation may help in control of neonatal hyporetinolaemia.
Lasisi
Akeem O
AO
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Clinical Science, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. akeenlasisi@gmail.com
Olayemi
Oladapo
O
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D009549:Nigeria; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care; D012923:Social Class; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
D014801:Vitamin A