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Maternal intake of antioxidant vitamins in pregnancy in relation to maternal and fetal plasma levels at delivery

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 March 2007

Alison R. Scaife ,
Geraldine McNeill ,
Doris M. Campbell ,
Sheelagh Martindale ,
Graham Devereux  and
Anthony Seaton
Alison R. Scaife*
Affiliation:
Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK
Geraldine McNeill
Affiliation:
Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK
Doris M. Campbell
Affiliation:
Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK
Sheelagh Martindale
Affiliation:
Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK
Graham Devereux
Affiliation:
Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK
Anthony Seaton
Affiliation:
Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK
*
*Corresponding author: Alison Scaife, fax +44 (0)1224 551826, email a.r.scaife@abdn.ac.uk
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Abstract

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The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that maternal intake of antioxidant vitamins is associated with maternal and cord plasma levels at delivery. Women were recruited in early pregnancy in Aberdeen Maternity Hospital and habitual diet during pregnancy was assessed by a food-frequency questionnaire mailed at 34 weeks gestation. Blood samples were taken at recruitment (n 1149) and maternal (n 1149) and cord blood samples (n 747) taken at delivery for analyses of vitamins A, C, E and β-carotene. Maternal plasma levels of vitamin E and β-carotene at delivery were significantly higher than levels in early pregnancy while levels of vitamins A and C were significantly lower. Positive correlations were observed for maternal levels of all the vitamins between early pregnancy and delivery. At delivery, maternal plasma concentrations of vitamins A, E and β-carotene were significantly higher than cord levels, while maternal levels of vitamin C were significantly lower. There were significant correlations between maternal and cord plasma concentrations for β-carotene and vitamin C but not for vitamins A or E. Maternal dietary intakes were positively correlated with maternal plasma levels of vitamins C, E and β-carotene in early pregnancy, with maternal plasma levels of β-carotene and vitamin C at delivery and with cord plasma levels of β-carotene and vitamin C. The results from the present study show that, in this population, maternal diet influences cord plasma levels of β-carotene and vitamin C, but not vitamins A and E.

Keywords

AntioxidantsVitamins: DietPregnancy
Type
Research Article
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 95 , Issue 4 , April 2006 , pp. 771 - 778
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 2006

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