Vitamin A, E, and C levels in maternal blood of patients with idiopathic preterm premature rupture of membranes, spontaneous preterm birth, and term birth

Abstract

Objectives To compare vitamin A, E, and C levels in cases with idiopathic preterm premature rupture of membranes (pPROM), idiopathic spontaneous preterm birth with intact membrane (sPTB), and term birth (TB). Material and Methods There were three groups in this study: pPROM, sPTB, and TB. The sample size was 60 patients in each group (n = 60, Total = 180). Serum vitamin A and E levels and leucocyte vitamin C levels were measured using commercially available research kits. Results The mean (SD) vitamin A levels were 49.56 (18.66) µg/dL in the pPROM group, 48.67 (10.28) µg/dL in the sPTB group, and 52.69 (24.39) µg/dL in the TB group. The mean (SD) vitamin E levels were 19.17 (9.23) µg/dL in the pPROM group, 16.94 (10.17) µg/dL in the sPTB group, and 17.47 (11.19) µg/dL in the TB group. The mean (SD) vitamin C levels were 47.89 (9.53) µM in the pPROM group, 45.78 (7.92) µM in the sPTB group, and 42.35 (6.14) µM in the TB group. Vitamin C levels were significantly higher in mothers who developed pPROM (p<0.05) when compared with TB and tended toward significance in mothers who developed sPTB compared with TB. Conclusion Vitamin A and E levels were comparable in all three groups. Higher leucocyte vitamin C levels, observed in patients with pPROM (vsTB) and sPTB (vsTB), were not able to protect against pPROM and sPTB. Thus, supplementation of these vitamins during pregnancy is questionable and needs further exploration.