LEUKOCYTE ASCORBIC-ACID DURING PREGNANCY - SEASONAL-VARIATION IN A TROPICAL COUNTRY

The present study was undertaken to establish if there was a seasonal variation in the leukocyte ascorbic acid levels In normal pregnant wom en from a tropical country. A prospective study was carried out in the Institute Naclonal de Perinatologia (INPer) in Mexico City in a group of 30 pregnant women that did not consume any vitamins supplements. L eukocyte ascorbic acid levels were determined by the Denson and Powers technique. A 24 hour nutritional recall and a seven day frequency sur vey were used to evaluate the diet consumed. The presence of urinary i nfections as well as other type of infections were also investigated. A significant seasonal variation in the leukocyte ascorbic add levels of these women was detected (p<0.05): the lowest revels were found fro m December to May end the highest were in June and July. No difference s were observed in the monthly leukocyte counts. Variation of the frui t and vegetable intake depended on the availability of these products. An inverse-linear relationship was found between the presence of infe ctions and the leukocyte ascorbic acid levels.