Status of Vitamin A and Related Compounds and Clinical Outcomes in Maternal-Infant Pairs in the Midwestern United States

• Published in: Annals of nutrition and metabolism 2017-01, Vol.71 (3/4), p.175-182
• Main Authors: Hanson, Corrine, Schumacher, Marina, Lyden, Elizabeth, Furtado, Jeremy, Van Ormer, Matthew, McGinn, Elizabeth, Rilett, Katherine, Cave, Caleb, Johnson, Rebecca, Weishaar, Kara, Anderson-Berry, Ann
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anemia; Babies; Carotenoids; Cesarean section; Chromatography; Clinical outcomes; Cord blood; Correlation analysis; High performance liquid chromatography; Infants; Liquid chromatography; Low birth weight; Lutein; Lycopene; Mothers; Newborn infants; Original Paper; Parameter modification; Patient outcomes; Pregnancy; Pregnant women; Regression analysis; Regression models; Respiratory distress syndrome; Retinoids; Samples; Statistical analysis; Statistical methods; Vitamin A; Vitamins; Zeaxanthin
• ISSN: 0250-6807; 1421-9697
• DOI: 10.1159/000481292

Background: Vitamin A is an essential nutrient for pregnant women, and other vitamin A-related compounds, including lutein and lycopene, have been associated with maternal-infant outcomes. The objective of this study was to quantify the status of vitamin A and related compounds in maternal-infant pairs at the time of delivery, and to determine its impact on clinical outcomes. Methods: Maternal and cord blood samples were collected in 189 mother-infant pairs. Concentrations of lutein + zeaxanthin, β-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, carotenes, and retinol were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography. Descriptive statistics was calculated and Spearman coefficients were used to assess correlations between maternal and cord measurements. Kruskal-Wallis and independent samples t test were used to compare measures between retinol groups. Linear and logistic regression models were used to adjust for relevant confounders. p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Ten percent of mothers had serum retinol concentrations ≤0.70 µmol/L; 80% of infants had serum retinol concentrations ≤0.70 µmol/L. Low maternal retinol concentrations were associated with maternal anemia (p = 0.04) and a trend toward low birth weight (p = 0.06). Maternal and infant concentrations of vitamin A compounds were highly correlated. After adjustment for confounders, maternal lutein was associated with a C-section (p = 0.03) and a diagnosis of respiratory distress syndrome in the infant (p = 0.02). Maternal lycopene was associated with growth parameters in the infant. Conclusions: As vitamin A-related compounds are modifiable by diet, future research determining the clinical impact of these compounds is warranted.