Plasma tocopherol and lipid levels in mother and umbilical cord; influence on birth weight.

Levels of tocopherol, cholesterol and triglycerides were estimated in paired maternal and umbilical cord plasma samples. All three constituents were significantly lower in cord plasma than in maternal plasma. Since tocopherol and lipid share a common lipoprotein carrier system, the present data suggests that the reduction observed in cord circulation could be due to the inability of the fetus to synthesise these carrier proteins. There was no relation between maternal vitamin E concentrations and infant birth weights.