Incidence of premature rupture of membranes in pregnant women with low leukocyte levels of vitamin C.

The present study was undertaken to explore the association between vitamin C nutritional status in pregnant women with premature rupture of the chorioamniotic membranes (PRM). A case-control cross-sectional study was carried out in 10 women with PRM and 19 women without PRM. The women were evaluated in the first hours postpartum while hospitalized: 10 ml of blood were obtained from each woman to determine vitamin C expressed as micrograms/10(8) leucocytes or microgram/mg of leucocyte protein. Data on fruit and vegetable consumption was collected by a frequency dietary survey and the hospital clinical records were reviewed to obtain their obstetric history and data on the presence of infection during pregnancy, in placenta and/or in fetal membranes. Low vitamin C levels were considered at a cut-off point equal or less than 26.33 micrograms/10(8) leucocytic cells and 3.15 micrograms/mg leucocyte protein. An association was found between low vitamin C levels and cases with PRM. No difference was found in the frequency of consumption of fruit and vegetables between the two groups. Infections were more frequently found in the PRM group, when the women had low levels of vitamin C, and when both risk factors were present simultaneously the proportion of PRM cases identified was greater than 0.75.