Association of Maternal Vitamin C Status with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Background: The role of antioxidants in the etiology of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has been given limited attention. Vitamin C is a nutrient with radical quenching property and has been claimed to influence glucose tolerance. Aim: To study the association between vitamin C status (dietary intake and plasma concentrations) and GDM. Material and Methods: Using a case-control design with 1:3 ratio we examined 42 pregnant women with GDM and 158 normal glucose tolerant (NGT) gestational age-matched healthy pregnant women at an average of 26 weeks of gestation. Maternal vitamin C intake was determined using detailed semi food frequency questionnaire (SFFQ) and 24 hour diet recall. Plasma vitamin C was determined using a spectrophotometric method in non-fasting samples. GDM was diagnosed by 75 gm oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) using International Association for Diabetes in Pregnancy Study Group (IADPSG) criteria (fasting ≥92mg%, 1hour ≥180mg%, 2 hour ≥153mg %). Results: GDM women had lower median intake of vitamin C (35.0 mg/day vs. 66.7; p