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Perinatal vitamin A status in relation to neurodevelopmental outcome at two years of age

Xuan Zhang1, Ke Chen, Xiao-Ping Wei

  • 1Children's Nutritional Research Center, Childrens Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, P R China. gracexuan330@163.com

International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research. Internationale Zeitschrift Fur Vitamin- Und Ernahrungsforschung. Journal International De Vitaminologie Et De Nutrition
|March 9, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Adequate vitamin A levels at birth positively impact infant motor skills and cognitive development. This study highlights vitamin A

Area of Science:

  • Nutritional Science
  • Developmental Pediatrics
  • Maternal-Fetal Medicine

Background:

  • Limited data exists on how antioxidant vitamins during pregnancy affect offspring intellectual development.
  • Understanding the role of vitamins A, E, and C in early neurodevelopment is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between maternal and cord blood levels of vitamins A, E, and C at delivery and the neurodevelopment of children in early childhood.
  • To explore the relationship between vitamin A placental transport ratio and neurodevelopmental outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • 158 mother-infant pairs were studied.
  • Serum concentrations of vitamins A, E, and C were measured in maternal and cord blood post-delivery.
  • Child intellectual development was assessed using the Gesell Development Schedule (GDS) at two years of age.

Main Results:

  • Higher vitamin A placental transport ratio (VA-PTR) correlated with better motor development and overall DQ.
  • Elevated cord vitamin A (VA) levels were linked to enhanced language and social area DQ.
  • Vitamin A was also associated with increased birth head circumference and birth weight.

Conclusions:

  • Adequate vitamin A status at delivery appears to positively influence neonatal birth outcomes.
  • Sufficient vitamin A levels are associated with improved neurodevelopmental trajectories in early childhood.
Abstract

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