Study of Vitamin A Level in Fullterm Small for Gestational Age Neonates and their Mothers

Abstract

Summary he present study aimed at assessing vitamin A level among full term small for gestational age newborn infants. The study was conducted on 45 mother infant pairs who delivered at obstetrics & gynecology hospital; Ain shams University from October 2012 to January 2013. The neonates were classified according to the birth weight into:  25 cases (SGA) and their mothers.  20 controls (AGA) and their mothers. The following were done to all neonates: Detailed history taking, determination of Apgar score at 1&5 minutes, assessment of the gestational age using extended Ballard scoring (Ballard et al., 1991), anthropometric measures, vital signs and measuring vitamin A level in both the cord blood of the neonates and serum of their mothers. The present study demonstrated that: SGA neonates had significantly lower cord blood vitamin A level compared to AGA (P-value=0.026) whereas non-significant difference was detected between cases and T  Summary 91 control groups as regards maternal serum vitamin A level (P-value=0.061) There is significant correlation between SGA and CS delivery (P-value=0.023). SGA group had significantly lower Apgar score at 1and 5 min compared to controls (P-value=0.000). Cases group had significantly lower Ballard score, OFC, length, weight and Ponderal index compared to control group. Neonates born via C/S had significantly higher maternal level of vitamin A(P-value<0.001). Significant positive correlation was detected between birth weight versus cord blood vitamin A level(P-value=0.011), Apgar score at 5 minutes(P-value=0.041) and Ponderal index(P-value<0.001). Another significant positive correlation was detected between cord blood vitamin A level and Ponderal index(P-value=0.015). ROC curve between cases and controls as regards vitamin A level neonate shows that cord blood level of vitamin A at >68 μmol/L has sensitivity 90% and specificity 52% to discriminate between SGA and AGA. ROC curve between cases and controls as regards vitamin A level in mother shows that cord blood level of vitamin A at >91 μmol/L has sensitivity 100% and specificity 25% to discriminate between SGA and AGA.