Abstract
Background
The incidence of infantile eczema is increasing annually. However, the associations between cord blood vitamin A and D and infantile eczema have been less studied. This study aimed to explore the factors influencing vitamin A and D in neonatal cord blood and the effects of vitamin A and D in cord blood on infantile eczema.
Methods
Questionnaire surveys, vitamin A and D detection and outcome measures were administered to 118 pairs of pregnant women and newborns. Follow-up for infantile eczema patients was based on a structured questionnaire.
Results
Significant correlations were detected between the vitamin A and D levels in the cord blood and venous blood of women in the third trimester of pregnancy (r = 0.256 and 0.697, respectively; all P < 0.05). The vitamin A intake of pregnant women (OR = 0.381, 95% CI: 0.147–0.989) and consumption of more vegetables (> 1 time/day) during pregnancy (OR = 0.334, 95% CI: 0.124–0.902) improved the protection of cord blood vitamin A levels. Pregnant women who exercised more (> 1 h/day) (OR = 0.103, 95% CI: 0.028–0.379) and who consumed more vitamin D during pregnancy (OR = 0.332, 95% CI: 0.118–0.933) presented with a lower risk of having cord blood vitamin D levels ≥ 20 ng/mL. Higher cord blood vitamin D levels were an independent protective factor for infantile eczema within 6 months and within 12 months (OR = 0.896, 95% CI: 0.834–0.963; OR = 0.927, 95% CI: 0.869–0.990, respectively). However, cord blood vitamin A levels were not associated with infantile eczema within 6 months or 12 months of age.
Conclusions
This study demonstrated a positive correlation between cord blood and vitamin A and D levels in maternal venous blood in the third trimester of pregnancy. Cord blood vitamin D levels can affect the development of infantile eczema.