title: Vitamin C in premature and full-term human neonates.
abstract: Plasma concentrations of vitamin C (ascorbic acid, AA) are known to be higher in full-term human neonates than their mothers. Immaturity of placental AA transport could result in low plasma AA concentrations in pre-term infants. We found that plasma AA concentrations in umbilical cord blood of 25 full-term neonates (38-42 weeks gestation) and 33 pre-term neonates (24-36 weeks gestation) were always significantly higher than in the corresponding maternal blood (P < 0.0001). However, plasma AA levels were significantly higher in pre-term than in full-term infants (146 ± 93 vs 102 ± 27 μM, respectively; P = 0.03). Furthermore, a rapid and sharp decrease in plasma AA concentrations from 229 ± 166 μM to 45 ± 18 μM (P < 0.0001) over the first 3 days of life was observed in eight very low birth weight infants (460-1090 g, 24-28 weeks gestation). These findings raise important questions about the in utero functions of AA in the developing fetus and the adequacy of postnatal vitamin C supplementation of the premature infant.
authors.affiliation: a Joint Program in Neonatology, Harvard Medical School , Boston , Massachusetts , USA.
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.affiliation: b Department of Medicine , Children's Hospital , Boston , Massachusetts , USA.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rifai
authors.affiliation: a Joint Program in Neonatology, Harvard Medical School , Boston , Massachusetts , USA.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Avery
authors.affiliation: c Whitaker Cardiovascular Institute, Boston University School of Medicine , Boston , Massachusetts , USA.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Frei