No impact seen for dietary vitamin C intake
THURSDAY, Nov. 5, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Lower vitamin C intake during pregnancy may influence infant emotional well-being, according to a study published online Nov. 2 in Developmental Psychology.
Elizabeth K. Wood, from the Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, and colleagues investigated whether prenatal vitamin C mediates the association between maternal prenatal distress and infant negative affect (NA). The analysis included 302 pregnant participants with data on prenatal vitamin C supplementation and three 24-hour dietary recalls.
The researchers found that higher prenatal maternal distress predicted higher infant NA at 6 months of age (β = 0.21). When adjusting for covariates, prenatal vitamin C supplementation mediated the association between maternal prenatal distress and infant NA (indirect β = 0.02) in structural equation modeling, but dietary vitamin C intake did not.
“A strong body of research shows that the intrauterine environment shapes cardiometabolic health. We”re now learning how it also influences brain development and infant behavioral health,” Wood said in a statement. “If there are evidence-based recommendations we can make to support patients during pregnancy and promote healthy brain development in their babies, that”s something we want to pursue and make widely accessible.”
Excessive Gestational Weight Gain Linked to Severe Maternal Morbidity 
Low Levels of Placental Growth Factor in Pregnancy Linked to Subsequent ADHD in Offspring 
Recommendations Issued for Use of Incretin-Based Meds in Pregnancy 
1 in 3 With Lupus Take Supplements, Medications With Potential for Interactions 
Treatment Satisfaction Higher for Patients With RA Choosing Their Own Treatment 
Postoperative Complications Elevated for Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus 
Drug Interactions Reducing Contraceptive Effectiveness Common in Epilepsy .jpg)
Most Specialty Oral Anticancer Meds for Blood Cancers Are Initially Rejected by Insurers 
