A US study has shown that obtaining sufficient amounts of vitamin C during pregnancy may contribute to supporting fetal brain development and mitigating some potential negative effects of maternal psychological stress on the child's mood and behavior during the first months of life.
The scientific website Medical Xpress reported on Tuesday that researchers from Oregon Health and Science University studied the relationship between stress levels in more than 300 pregnant women and their vitamin C intake, tracking the behavioral indicators of their children after birth.
Impact of dietary stress
The results showed that children whose mothers experienced high levels of stress and consumed lower amounts of the vitamin were more prone to displaying negative emotions, such as crying and distress, at around six months of age.
The study indicated that taking vitamin C supplements was associated with a reduction in these behavioral indicators, suggesting that the vitamin may help mitigate some effects associated with maternal stress during pregnancy on child development.
Dietary sources and protective role
Researchers clarified that vitamin C plays an important role in protecting cells from oxidative stress, and a woman's need for it increases during pregnancy. It can be obtained from various dietary sources, such as citrus fruits, strawberries, sweet peppers, and vegetables.
The research team emphasized the importance of balanced nutrition during pregnancy and providing nutritional support and counseling to mothers, especially those facing difficulties in accessing healthy foods, noting the need for additional studies and longer-term follow-up of children to verify the potential effects of these findings on their development.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
Comments (0)