low serum vitamin c status among pregnant women attending antenatal care at general hospital dawakin kudu, northwest nigeria

background: vitamin c levels are low in pregnancy. the purpose of this study was to determine serum vitamins c levels among pregnant women attending antenatal care at a general hospital in dawakin kudu, kano, and this can help further research to determine the place of vitamin c supplementation in pregnancy. methods: this was a prospective study of 400 pregnant women who presented for antenatal care in general hospital dawakin kudu, kano, nigeria. research structured questionnaire was administered to 400 respondents. determination of serum vitamin c was done using appropriate biochemical methods. results: vitamin c deficiency was found in 79.5% of the participants. the values for vitamin c were 0.20 ± 0.18 mg/dl during the first trimester, 0.50 ± 0.99 mg/dl in the second trimester, and 0.35 ± 0.36 mg/dl in the third trimester and p = 0.001. conclusions: there is a significant reduction in the serum vitamins c concentration throughout the period of pregnancy with the highest levels in the second trimester. therefore, vitamin c supplementation is suggested during pregnancy, especially for those whose fruit and vegetable consumption is inadequate.