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

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. (C) 2014 Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of The Egyptian Pediatric Association.