Pregnant women urged to lift vitamin C intake

Insufficient levels of vitamin C before and during pregnancy can lead to a higher risk of a ruptured membrane and premature delivery, according to research presented at last week's Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's annual meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Vitamin C plays a significant role in the structure of collagen in the foetal membrane, and so women with a low vitamin C intake can be more susceptible to premature rupture of the membrane attached to the placenta, leading to an increased risk of premature delivery.

A study was carried out among 2,247 pregnant women who were asked to detail their intake of various foods before their pregnancy and during the second three months of their pregnancy.

The research showed that there was a strong relationship between a lack of vitamin C in women's diets and a tendency toward rupturing the placental membrane.

For example, women who took in less than 21mg of vitamin C per day before pregnancy had twice the risk of suffering a premature ruptured membrane during their pregnancy, while those who consumed less than 65 mg of vitamin C daily during the second trimester of their pregnancy were at 70% increased risk.

The researchers found that only 28% of women said they had taken vitamin C supplements before pregnancy, while 80% reported taking a multivitamin by the 30th week of pregnancy. The study's results suggest that starting vitamins after becoming pregnant is not enough to ward off rupture risk.