Retinol concentration in maternal and cord serum: its relation to birth weight in healthy mother-infant pairs.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Vitamin A is an essential micronutrient for the development and growth of the fetus. The objective of this study was to identify a possible association between low serum retinol and birth weight in healthy mother-infant pairs in Southern Israel. A secondary objective was to examine ethnic differences in maternal and cord serum retinol.

METHODS:

Serum retinol was measured at delivery from pairs of healthy mothers and healthy mature newborns.

RESULTS:

Of the 313 mother-infant pairs studied, 56% were Jews and 44% Bedouins. The proportion of infants with birth weight of 2500-2999 g was greater among mothers with lower serum retinol (<0.7 micromol/l) compared to mothers with normal serum retinol (> or =0.7 micromol/l) (p<0.001). Cord retinol <0.7 micromol/l was more frequent in infants with birth weight 2500-2990 g compared to infants with birth weight > or =3000 g (p=0.006). Using a split model and stepwise multiple regression analysis, infant's birth weight was significantly influenced by cord retinol concentration in infants born to mothers with low serum retinol; gestational age and cord retinol alone explained 27% of the variability of birth weight in this group. A higher proportion of Bedouin than Jewish infants had serum retinol <0.7 and <0.35 micromol/l (both p<0.001).

CONCLUSION:

Low cord and maternal serum retinol may reflect poor vitamin A status of the newborn and the mother, which in turn may affect fetal growth.

• Authors: Elyahu Gazala, Batia Sarov, Eli Hershkovitz, Shimon Edvardson, David Sklan, Miriam Katz, Michael Friger, Rafael Gorodischer
• Journal: Early human development (Early Hum Dev) Vol. 71 Issue 1 Pg. 19-28 (Feb 2003) ISSN: 0378-3782 [Print] Ireland
• PMID: 12614947 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Vitamin A

Topics

• Adult
• Arabia (ethnology)
• Arabs
• Birth Weight
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Female
• Fetal Blood (chemistry)
• Gestational Age
• Humans
• Israel (epidemiology)
• Jews
• Pregnancy (blood)
• Vitamin A (blood)
• Vitamin A Deficiency (blood, complications, ethnology)