Indication: Pregnancy complications

Source: Am J Obstet Gynecol, August 2003;189(2):519-25.

Research: Ascorbic acid deficiency may lead to premature rupture of the membranes. As such, researchers studied a prospective cohort of pregnant women, aged >/= 16 years, with singleton gestations who received care at one of four prenatal clinics in central North Carolina from 1995 through 1998. Vitamin C intake preconceptionally and during the second trimester was examined for its association with pre­term delivery and subsets of pre­term labor, premature rupture of the membranes and medical induction in 2064 women.

Results: Women who had total vitamin C intakes of <10th percentile preconceptionally had twice the risk of preterm delivery because of premature rupture of the membranes. This risk was attenuated slightly for second-trimester intake. The elevated risk of preterm premature rupture of the membranes was greatest for women with a low vitamin C intake during both time periods.