Perinatal Vitamin A Status in Relation to Neurodevelopmental Outcome at two Years of Age

Abstract

Information about the effect of antioxidant vitamins nutrition during pregnancy on offsprings intellectual development is extremely limited. To investigate the correlation of antioxidant vitamins (Vitamin A, E and C) at delivery and the neurodevelopment of early childhood. A total of 158 paired maternal-neonatal subjects were recruited. The serum concentrations of vitamin A, E and C in maternal and cord blood after delivery were determined and intellectual development was evaluated by Gesell Development Schedule (GDS) at two years old. After adjusting for potential confounders, vitamin A placental transport ratio (VA-PTR) was positively associated with motor area development quotients (DQ) and average DQ(p<0.01). Cord VA level was positively related with language area and social area DQ (p<0.05). Nevertheless, there was no significant association between cord VE, VC levels, VE PTR or VC PTR and GDS. The adaptive area and average DQ in high cord VA group was higher than those in low VA group (p<0.05). Cord VA level and VA-PTR were positively associated with birth head circumference and birth weight, respectively. Our data suggested that adequate vitamin A at delivery had beneficial influence on neonatal birth outcomes and children's neurodevelopment in later childhood.