Factors affecting serum vitamin a levels in matched maternal-cord pairs

Objective  To determine the relationship of various maternal and neonatal factors with serum vitamin A concentration in matched mother-newborn pairs. Methods  This is a cross-sectional study on 100 neonate-mother pairs at a tertiary care center at Raipur, C.G., India. Gestational age, birth weight and sex of the neonates as well as maternal parity, hemoglobin (Hb) levels, access to antenatal care (ANC) and presence of toxemia of pregnancy were recorded. Cord and maternal serum vitamin A levels were assayed. Results  Maternal serum vitamin A levels were not significantly affected by maternal age, parity, Hb level and presence of toxemia. Higher trend of maternal vitamin A concentrations (P=NS) and statistically higher values of cord serum vitamin A levels (P<0.05) were seen in mothers who had received ANC. Significantly higher cord vitamin A levels were seen with increasing weight of the placenta, birth weight of the newborn as well as its gestational age and maturity. Weak but significant positive correlation was present between maternal and cord serum vitamin A levels. Conclusion  Data from our study show that prematurity and intrauterine growth retardation are associated with low neonatal vitamin A levels. Several factors like lack of ANC, lower maternal Hb levels and reduced placental weight further affect vitamin A status of the newborn rendering them highly susceptible to vitamin A deficiency. We therefore, suggest further studies on vitamin A supplementation in pregnant women and preterm neonates.