Retinol and Pro-Vitamin A Carotenoid Nutritional Status during Pregnancy Is Associated with Newborn Hearing Screen Results

Authors

Rebecca Slotkowski, University of Nebraska Medical CenterFollow
Matthew Van Ormer, University of Nebraska Medical Center
Anum Akbar, University of Nebraska Medical CenterFollow
Olivia Paetz, University of Nebraska Medical Center
Taija Hahka, University of Nebraska Medical CenterFollow
Maranda Thompson, University of Nebraska Medical CenterFollow
Alyssa Freeman, University of Nebraska Medical Center
Alexandra Hergenrader, University of Nebraska Medical Center
Sarah Sweeney, University of Nebraska Medical Center
Zeljka Korade, University of Nebraska Medical CenterFollow
Thiago Genaro-Mattos, University of Nebraska Medical Center
Corrine K. Hanson, University of Nebraska Medical CenterFollow
Ann Anderson-Berry, University of Nebraska Medical CenterFollow
Melissa K. Thoene, University of Nebraska Medical CenterFollow

Document Type

Article

Journal Title

Nutrients

Publication Date

2023

Volume

15

Abstract

The prenatal period is critical for auditory development; thus, prenatal influences on auditory development may significantly impact long-term hearing ability. While previous studies identified a protective effect of carotenoids on adult hearing, the impact of these nutrients on hearing outcomes in neonates is not well understood. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between maternal and umbilical cord plasma retinol and carotenoid concentrations and abnormal newborn hearing screen (NHS) results. Mother-infant dyads (n = 546) were enrolled at delivery. Plasma samples were analyzed using HPLC and LC-MS/MS. NHS results were obtained from medical records. Statistical analysis utilized Mann-Whitney U tests and logistic regression models, with p ≤ 0.05 considered statistically significant. Abnormal NHS results were observed in 8.5% of infants. Higher median cord retinol (187.4 vs. 162.2 μg/L, p = 0.01), maternal trans-β-carotene (206.1 vs. 149.4 μg/L, p = 0.02), maternal cis-β-carotene (15.9 vs. 11.2 μg/L, p = 0.02), and cord trans-β-carotene (15.5 vs. 8.0 μg/L, p = 0.04) were associated with abnormal NHS. Significant associations between natural log-transformed retinol and β-carotene concentrations and abnormal NHS results remained after adjustment for smoking status, maternal age, and corrected gestational age. Further studies should investigate if congenital metabolic deficiencies, pesticide contamination of carotenoid-rich foods, maternal hypothyroidism, or other variables mediate this relationship

MeSH Headings

Pregnancy, Infant, Newborn, Infant, Adult, Female, Humans, Vitamin A, beta Carotene, Vitamins, Nutritional Status, Chromatography, Liquid, Tandem Mass Spectrometry, Carotenoids

DOI Link

10.3390/nu15040800

ISSN

2072-6643

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Recommended Citation

Slotkowski, Rebecca; Van Ormer, Matthew; Akbar, Anum; Paetz, Olivia; Hahka, Taija; Thompson, Maranda; Freeman, Alyssa; Hergenrader, Alexandra; Sweeney, Sarah; Korade, Zeljka; Genaro-Mattos, Thiago; Hanson, Corrine K.; Anderson-Berry, Ann; and Thoene, Melissa K., "Retinol and Pro-Vitamin A Carotenoid Nutritional Status during Pregnancy Is Associated with Newborn Hearing Screen Results" (2023). Journal Articles: Pediatrics. 38.
https://digitalcommons.unmc.edu/com_peds_articles/38