Maternal smoking during pregnancy is known to have negative effects on the child’s respiratory health, including an increased risk of wheezing. A secondary analysis of recent clinical trial data investigated the association between vitamin C supplementation during pregnancy and the development of wheezing in children exposed to maternal smoking. This research JAMA Pediatrics journal. This study was conducted by McEvoy CT et al.
Children who are exposed to their mother’s smoking during pregnancy are at increased risk of developing respiratory illnesses such as wheezing later in life. Vitamin C supplementation is expected to alleviate some of these side effects, perhaps by improving airway function. However, the specific mechanism underlying this association remains unclear.
Researchers looked at data from the Vitamin C Trial to Reduce the Effects of Smoking in Pregnancy on Infant Lung Function (VCSIP), which randomly assigned pregnant women who smoke to receive either vitamin C or a placebo. A longitudinal analysis was conducted. Forced expiratory flow measurements and wheeze development in children were assessed at 3, 12, and 60 months of age.
The main findings of the study are:
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Children whose mothers received vitamin C supplementation during pregnancy had significantly higher forced expiratory flow values compared to children whose mothers received a placebo.
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Children whose mothers received vitamin C supplementation, especially those aged 4 to 6 years, had a significantly lower incidence of wheezing.
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Approximately 54.2% of the association between vitamin C supplementation and wheeze reduction was mediated by improved forced expiratory flow.
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Maternal smoking during pregnancy was directly associated with the occurrence of wheezing in children.
This study provides evidence that vitamin C supplementation during pregnancy has beneficial effects on children’s respiratory health, especially in the context of maternal smoking. Improved airway function mediated the association between vitamin C supplementation and reduced wheezing, highlighting a potential mechanism of action.
Vitamin C supplementation during pregnancy may have a protective effect on wheezing in offspring exposed to maternal smoking. These findings highlight the importance of prenatal interventions to reduce the negative respiratory effects of maternal smoking and the potential role of vitamin C supplementation in improving respiratory outcomes in children. Further research is needed to elucidate the long-term effects and mechanisms of action of vitamin C supplementation on children’s respiratory health.
reference:
McEvoy, CT, Roseanne Shorey Kendrick, McDonald, KY, Park, MS, ER Spindell, CD Morris, RS Tepper (2024). Vitamin C supplementation in pregnant smokers and the trajectory of offspring airway function: a secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial. JAMA Pediatrics. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2024.0430
