Backgroung. Vitamin A is an essential micronutrient for the development and growth of the fetus. Low serum retinol (SR) is indicative of vitamin A deficiency.

Aim. Identify factors related to low SR at delivery in healthy mother- infant pairs, and its possible association with birth weight (BW).

Methods. SR was measured in maternal and cord blood obtained at delivery from pairs of healthy mothers, and term, normal BW infants in Southern Israel. The population sample obtained was stratified by ethnic origin.

Results. A total of 313 mother infant-pairs were studied. Mothers with SR <0.7 μmol/L gave birth to a higher% of lighter BW(2500-2990g) infants than mothers with SR ≥0.7 μmol/L (p<0.01) after adjusting for infant's sex. Cord SR <0.7 μmol/L was more frequent in infants with BW 2500-2990g compared to infants with BW ≥3000g (p=0.006). Multiple regression analysis revealed an independent relation between cord SR and BW of the lighter BW infants (p=0.045); the% of explained variance for this model was 15.8. Gestational age had no independent significant relation with cord SR.

Conclusion. Low cord and maternal SR may reflect poor vitamin A status of the newborn and the mother, which in turn may affect fetal growth. The significance of this new finding in relation to delivery of low BW infants remains to be investigated.