Vitamin C and infant emotional development study

Researchers at Oregon Health and Science University conducted a study published in Developmental Psychology involving 302 pregnant women to examine the link between vitamin C intake and infant emotional development.

The findings suggest that infants whose mothers experienced high stress and lower vitamin C intake were more likely to exhibit negative emotions, such as irritability and fussiness, at six months of age. While vitamin C intake through food did not show a similar correlation, the study noted that vitamin C supplements may play a protective role in fetal brain development, particularly in high-stress environments.

Researchers observed that women reporting higher levels of depression, anxiety, and stress tended to have infants with more negative emotional reactions and generally consumed fewer vitamin C supplements. Because the human body cannot produce vitamin C, the fetus relies on the mother via the umbilical cord. Professor Elinor Sullivan noted that since supplements are inexpensive and accessible, nutritional intervention could serve as a way to support long-term child and family well-being.