A study published in Developmental Psychology suggests that vitamin C supplementation during pregnancy may help lessen the association between maternal distress and negative emotionality in infants. Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University followed 302 pregnant participants and assessed their babies’ temperament at six months of age.
Higher levels of maternal distress during pregnancy, measured through assessments of depression, anxiety and stress, predicted higher infant negative affect. This temperament measure reflects how readily a baby experiences and expresses negative emotions. The researchers found that prenatal vitamin C supplementation statistically mediated the association, while vitamin C intake from food did not.
Participants reported their supplement use and completed three 24-hour dietary recalls. Six months after delivery, caregivers completed the Infant Behavior Questionnaire–Revised to assess infant temperament. The study’s findings point to supplementation as a possible modifiable factor, but do not establish that it prevents later mental health conditions.
The authors say further research is needed to determine whether the association continues as children grow. The study was published under the title “Prenatal Vitamin C Supplementation Mediates the Association Between Prenatal Distress and Infant Negative Affect: A Prospective Cohort Study.”
Sources: Neuroscience News.