ABSTRACT
Forty-two pairs of maternal and cord plasma vitamin C levels were determined after
term, preterm, and multiple gestation pregnancies and 95 determinations of plasma
ascorbate were performed on 36 premature infants who were fed a recommended infant
formula throughout the first month of life. There were no significant changes of the
cord or maternal ascorbate levels or of the cord/maternal ascorbate ratio between
term, preterm, and multiple gestation cases. A significant negative correlation was
found between the maternal ascorbate levels and the cord/maternal ascorbate ratio,
supporting previous observations that high fetal blood levels of vitamin C are maintained
even in cases where the maternal vitamin nutrition is poor.
A rapid decline from cord levels was evident during the first week of life, followed
by maintenance of relatively low plasma ascorbate levels, despite supplementation
of recommended vitamin nutrition.
Further monitoring of ascorbate levels in premature infants is suggested for better
adjustment of the recommendations for vitamin C supplementation.
