Association of mid-pregnancy antioxidative vitamin and oxidative stress levels with infant growth during the first 3 years of life

OBJECTIVE Numerous studies have revealed the impacts of maternal nutritional status on subsequent birth outcome, but much less is known about the long-term impacts on infant growth after birth. We investigated the association between maternal micronutrient levels/oxidative stress status in pregnancy and infant growth during the first 3 years of life. DESIGN Prospective cohort study. SETTING The Ewha Birth & Growth Cohort study was constructed for women who had been recruited between 24 and 28 weeks' gestation and their offspring at Ewha Womans University Hospital. SUBJECTS Maternal serum vitamin and urinary oxidative stress levels were measured, and infant weight, height, and head circumference were measured repeatedly at birth and at 6, 12, 18, 24, and 36 months of age. RESULTS Maternal vitamins A and C were positively associated with infant head circumference and infant weight, respectively, during the first 3 years of life, even after controlling for potential confounding factors. But, maternal oxidative stress was not related to infant growth. CONCLUSIONS The effects of maternal vitamin levels on subsequent infant growth during the first 3 years of life necessitate interventions to supplement antioxidative vitamins during pregnancy.