Plasma beta-carotene concentrations in pregnancies, newborn infants and their mothers.

Concentrations of beta-carotene were determined in maternal and fetal blood. The samples were collected from 33 mothers, their 33 newborns and 50 pregnant and 29 non-pregnant women. Beta-carotene concentrations of the non-pregnant, pregnant, newborn infant and their mothers were 140.31, 171.54, 63.57 and 175.74 micrograms/dl, respectively. There was a significant correlation (P < 0.001) between beta-carotene values of the maternal plasma and cord plasma. Mean maternal plasma beta-carotene concentration was higher (P < 0.0005) than that of the cord. These results suggest that plasma transport capacity of beta-carotene was low from mother to their fetus.