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Assessment of vitamin status;  A, E and D in Egyptian neonates with IUGR: a cross sectional study

Hanaa Reyad Abdallah1, Abderahman A Abdelrazek2, Eman Refaat Youness3

  • 1Biological Anthropology Department, Medical Research and Clinical Studies Institute, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt. hanaareyad@yahoo.com.

BMC Pediatrics
|February 27, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Newborns with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) exhibit lower vitamin A, E, and D levels. These vitamin deficiencies correlate with reduced birth weight, length, and head circumference, underscoring the need for maternal nutritional support.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Medicine
  • Nutritional Science
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) poses significant risks to neonates, including potential fatal complications and long-term developmental issues.
  • Maternal vitamin status is recognized as a critical factor influencing fetal development and neonatal outcomes.
  • Assessing vitamin A, E, and D levels in newborns with IUGR is crucial for understanding their nutritional status and potential health implications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate and compare the concentrations of vitamin A, E, and D in the umbilical cord blood of neonates diagnosed with IUGR versus those appropriate for gestational age (AGA).
  • To explore the correlations between cord blood vitamin levels and anthropometric measurements (weight, length, head circumference) in newborns.
  • To highlight the importance of nutritional interventions during pregnancy to prevent vitamin deficiencies in newborns.

Main Methods:

  • Maternal data and comprehensive neonatal assessments were collected, including gestational age, Ballard score, Apgar scores, and anthropometric measurements (head circumference, length, weight).
  • Gestational age was determined using last menstrual period and ultrasound (U/S).
  • Vitamin A, E, and D concentrations in cord blood samples were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and ELISA.

Main Results:

  • Newborns with IUGR exhibited significantly lower levels of vitamin A, E, and D compared to AGA neonates (p < 0.05).
  • Significant positive correlations were observed between neonatal weight and cord blood levels of vitamin A and E (p < 0.05).
  • Neonatal length showed a significant positive correlation only with vitamin A levels (p < 0.05), while head circumference was positively correlated with all three vitamins (p < 0.05).

Conclusions:

  • Neonates with IUGR demonstrate significantly diminished levels of vitamins A, E, and D.
  • Vitamin A and E levels correlate positively with birth weight, and vitamin A with neonatal length, while all three vitamins correlate with head circumference in IUGR infants.
  • The findings emphasize the critical need for robust nutritional policies to mitigate vitamin deficiencies during pregnancy and early childhood.
Abstract

Keywords:
Intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR)Vitamin AVitamin DVitamin EVitamin status

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