VITAMIN-C AND CERVICOVAGINAL INFECTIONS IN PREGNANT-WOMEN

There are many studies that show an association between infections and vitamin C status but they lack a biochemical evaluation of the basal conditions of this nutrient before the infection, so the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of cervico-vaginal infections on plasma and leukocyte vitamin C levels in pregnant women. A case-contr ol study was performed where leukocyte counts, vitamin C plasma and le ukocyte levels and the presence of cervico-vaginal infections were eva luated in women throughout their pregnancy. Infections were caused mai nly by Candida albicans and Gardnerella vaginalis. In women where a ce rvicovaginal infection was detected there was an increase in leukocyte counts and a decrease in leukocyte vitamin C levels, no difference wa s found in plasma levels. When the infected women were compared with t he non-infected the only difference found was in the vitamin C leukocy te levels during the infectious process. By these means we concluded t hat cervico-vaginal infection do not affect plasma vitamin C levels an d that in the presence of infection vitamin C leukocyte levels are not representative of the body store of this vitamin. (C) 1998 Elsevier S cience Inc.