Low vitamin C status in umbilical cords is associated with increased risk of neonatal complications in type 1 diabetic pregnancy: A cross-sectional Study

Vitamin C (vit C) is essential for normal fetal development. Vit C of the umbilical cords of the neonates has been related to the maternal vit C status in late pregnancy in a cohort of type 1 diabetic women. Hereby the common view of the fetus as a "parasite" on the mothers vit C pool is questioned, thus the preferential fetal transport may be overridden by increased needs of the mother during situations of deficiency, thereby potentially influencing the health of the offspring.