Maternal-cord blood vitamin c status and its relation to fetal growth and placental apoptosis

Abstract EN

Background : Although the antioxidant property of vitamin C as well as its endothelial function promotion are well documented, its role in fetal growth during pregnancy is still not conclusive in previous studies.

Objectives : This study aimed to estimate maternal and cord blood vitamin C level and to detect its influence on neonatal growth as well as placental weight and placental apoptosis.

Methods : The study was conducted on 60 healthy singleton pregnant women and their full term neonates at Ain Shams University Hospital in Egypt.

Maternal and cord blood vitamin C plasma level estimation as well as quantitative analysis of placental apoptotic index were done in addition to full anthropometric assessment for delivered neonates.

Results : There was a positive significant correlation between maternal and neonatal vitamin C levels (r = 0.838, P < 0.001).

Positive significant correlations between maternal vitamin C levels and neonatal weight (r = 0.448, P < 0.001), length (r = 0.67, P < 0.001), BMI (r = 0.52, P = 0.003), OFC (r = 0.60, P < 0.001) and placental weight (r = 0.373, P < 0.001) while a significant negative correlation with placental apoptotic index (r = -0.817, P < 0.001) were detected.

Multiple regression analysis showed that placental weight was the most sensitive predictor of neonatal weight (t = 4.132, P < 0.001) followed by maternal vitamin C (t = 3.034, P = 0.006).

Conclusion : Maternal vitamin C level has a significant positive impact on neonatal anthropometry and placental weight while negatively correlating with placental apoptosis.

This denotes an important role of vitamin C in fetal and placental growth during pregnancy.