The relationship between maternal smoking during pregnancy and wheeze in offspring has long been established, with smoking exposure in utero posing a risk factor for poor respiratory function later in life. A recent secondary analysis of clinical trial data conducted by Cindy McEvoy, MD, MCR, and colleagues at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland examined the impact of vitamin C supplementation on wheeze occurrence in children of smoking mothers.
The analysis revealed that improved airway function appeared to mediate the association between vitamin C supplementation and wheeze in children of smoking mothers. Longitudinal analyses of forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% expired volume (FEF25%-75%) at ages 3, 12, and 60 months showed significantly higher values for children whose mothers took vitamin C compared with placebo-treated mothers. Furthermore, children in the vitamin C group exhibited a greater increase in FEF25%-75% with increasing age despite no postnatal supplementation.
The study found that wheeze occurrence was significantly lower in children aged 4 to 6 years whose mothers received vitamin C supplementation during pregnancy. The odds of wheeze were reduced by 59% in children whose mothers took vitamin C, highlighting the potential protective effect of vitamin C in this population. Additionally, more than half of the association between vitamin C and wheeze was mediated through the improved airway function observed in children of supplemented mothers.
The findings of this study have important clinical implications for pediatric respiratory health. By identifying a potential protective effect of vitamin C supplementation in children of smoking mothers, healthcare providers can consider recommending vitamin C as a preventive measure for wheeze in this high-risk population. Further research is warranted to explore the underlying mechanisms behind vitamin C’s impact on airway function and wheeze occurrence in offspring of smoking mothers.
It is essential to acknowledge the limitations of this study, including the small sample size and potential biases in data collection. The researchers noted that wheeze in pediatric patients may be challenging to recognize, which could have influenced the results. Future studies should focus on replicating these findings in larger, diverse populations to validate the association between maternal vitamin C supplementation, airway function, and wheeze in children of smoking mothers.
The secondary analysis of clinical trial data by McEvoy and colleagues sheds light on the potential role of vitamin C supplementation in improving airway function and reducing wheeze in children of smoking mothers. These findings underscore the importance of prenatal interventions in mitigating the respiratory risks associated with maternal smoking during pregnancy. By further exploring the benefits of vitamin C supplementation, healthcare providers can better support the respiratory health of vulnerable pediatric populations.
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