Newborns vitamin A in relation to sex and birth weight

Area of Science:

• Neonatology
• Nutritional Science
• Public Health

Background:

• Vitamin A is crucial for infant development and immune function.
• Understanding vitamin A status in newborns is essential for early intervention.
• Cord serum vitamin A reflects the nutritional status of the mother during pregnancy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine cord serum vitamin A levels in neonates born in Tehran.
• To investigate potential differences in vitamin A levels based on sex, birth weight, and gestational age.
• To explore the correlation between cord serum vitamin A and maternal parity and age.

Main Methods:

• Cord blood samples were collected from 256 male and 294 female neonates.
• Serum vitamin A concentrations were measured using standardized laboratory techniques.
• Statistical analyses were performed to compare groups and assess correlations.

Main Results:

• The mean cord serum vitamin A was 24.04 +/- 6.87 micrograms/dl, ranging from 3.16 to 49.71 micrograms/dl.
• Male neonates exhibited significantly lower mean vitamin A levels than females (P < 0.001).
• Low vitamin A prevalence was higher in males (35%) than females (21%).
• Serum retinol increased with birth weight and was lower in premature neonates.
• A significant correlation was found between cord serum retinol and parity in mothers over 35 years old.

Conclusions:

• Sex is a significant factor influencing cord serum vitamin A levels in Tehran neonates.
• Lower vitamin A levels in males suggest a need for targeted nutritional support.
• Birth weight and gestational age are important determinants of neonatal vitamin A status.
• Maternal factors like age and parity may influence neonatal vitamin A levels, particularly in older mothers.