VITAMIN C LEVELS IN CHILDREN LESS THAN 5 YEAR OLD EXPOSED TO PASSIVE SMOKING

Abstract

SUMMARY I n this study, we aimed to compare between a group of children exposed to passive smoking and another group of non exposed children matched by age and sex as regard serum vitamin C. Furthermore, we correlated between level of exposure (as indicated by duration of exposure and number of cigarette) with vitamin C serum level. The study was conducted at Ain Shams outpatient clinic from the period of 1/7/2014 to 1/10/2014. The study included 100 children aging from 6 month to 5 years old, who fulfilled the food frequency questionnaire of vitamin c and were found to be vit c sufficient divided into two groups; group A consisting of 50 child with history of exposure to passive smoking and group B consisting of 50 age and sex matched controls with no history of exposure to passive smoking in the house. All children included in this study were subjected to self-formulated questionnaire collecting data about socio-demographic characteristics and detailed data about smoking exposure. Full dietary history was obtained using food frequency questionnaire and 24-h recall questionnaire developed by national institute of food and nutrition. Complete clinical examination was done and anthropometric measurements were obtained. Laboratory examination was performed and Vitamin C level was measured by using colorimetric technique. The study results showed a highly significant lower level of serum vitamin C among exposed children compared to healthy controls (5.3±3.2 Vs 12.4±3.7) After adjustment of all personal and socio-demographic factors, it was shown that exposure to passive smoking is the independent factor that affect vitamin C level, with higher vitamin C among non exposed group The current study showed a highly significant negative correlation between each of duration of exposure, number of cigarettes and vitamin C level among exposed group However, there was no significant correlation between each of duration of exposure, number of cigarettes and all anthropometric among exposed group. In conclusion, we have confirmed and extended previous studies of vitamin C status in 6 months-5 years children exposed to ETS. Blood ascorbate concentrations were lower in smoke-exposed children than in unexposed children consuming equal amounts of dietary vitamin C. It is rather remarkable that this reduction in blood ascorbate occurs in correlation with the amount of smoke expo