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The use of vitamin C supplements by mothers who smoke during pregnancy seems to have a positive effect on the lung function of newborn babies, according to Cindy McEvoy and colleagues. Also, the incidence of wheezing significantly decreases in these children. The study was published in JAMA on May 18^th. The results could offer an easy applicable strategy to minimize the harmful effects of smoking during pregnancy in babies.

Smoking during pregnancy is associated with, in addition to numerousother negativeeffects, an increased risk of reduced lung function in babies and increased incidence of asthma during childhood. The researchers showed that the lung function in newborns, whose smoking mother received vitamin C, was significantly better 72 hours after birth than the lung function of newborns from mothers that smoke who received a placebo. The lungs of children born from non-smoking mothers still functioned best.

A year after birth no differences were seen in lung function between the group who used vitamin C supplements and the group who received a placebo. The effects on the long term on lung function and astma incidence need to be investigated.

Despite the known adverse effects of smoking during pregnancy for the baby, it is still common; in Western countries more that one in ten woman smoke during pregnancy. The researchers think that vitamin C can be a simple and inexpensive way to reduce the harmful effects of smoking during pregnancy on the lung function of newborns.

Sources: Eurekalert, JAMA, WHO.