The vitamin C status of formula-fed preterm infants

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.