The effect of passive smoking and breast feeding on serum antioxidant vitamin (A, C, E) levels in infants

Aim: Toxic substances in tobacco smoke are known to have negative effects on the antioxidant capacity of human body. In order to investigate the effect of passive smoking on serum antioxidant levels in infants, serum vitamin A, E, C levels and urinary cotinine/creatinine levels were measured in 254 infants at the age of 6 months. Methods: The information about infants' nutrition and exposure to tobacco smoke was obtained from the mothers by the help of a questionnaire. The infants were grouped according to both smoking status of mother and urinary cotinine/creatinine levels. Results: The mean serum vitamin A, C and E levels of infants of smoking mothers were significantly lower than those of non-smoking mothers (p < 0.05). Vitamin A, E and C levels were negatively correlated with urinary cotinine/creatinine levels (p < 0.05, r: -0.61, -0.42, -0.53, respectively). Multivariate analysis revealed independent factors determining the serum vitamin A, E and C levels of infants as maternal smoking and breast feeding (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Tobacco smoke exposure of infants significantly decreases their serum antioxidant vitamin A, C and E levels. However, breast feeding may help to prevent the decrement of antioxidant vitamin levels of passive smoking infants.