Table 3.
Pregnancy Outcomes.
| Outcomes | Optimal Vitamin C | (n) | Low Vitamin C | (n) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miscarriage (delivery before GA62) (n = total pregnancies) | 4 (11.8%) | 34 | 2 (5.6%) | 36 |
| Foetal reabsorption (n = total pregnancies) | 2 (5.9%) | 34 | 9 (25%) * | 36 |
| Preterm delivery (born GA62–66) (n = litters born GA62+) | 0 | 30 | 2 (5.9%) | 34 |
| Stillbirth # of pregnancies (n = litters born GA62+) | 5 (16.7%) | 30 | 9 (26.5%) | 34 |
| Cumulative adverse outcome (n = total pregnancies) | 11 (32.4%) | 34 | 22 (61.1%) * | 36 |
| Stillbirth # of pups (n = total pups) | 6 (5.9%) | 102 | 11 (13.1%) | 85 |
| Litter size (n pups) (n = term litters (born GA66+)) | 3.4 ± 1.0 (2–6) | 30 | 2.6 ± 0.9 (1–4) * | 32 |
| GA of pups at delivery (n = term litters of 2–4 pups) † | 68.6 ± 1.0 | 27 | 68.9 ± 1.2 | 27 |
| Litter birth weight (g) (n = term litters of 2–4 pups) † | 95.3 ± 10.4 | 27 | 97.2 ± 10.0 | 27 |
| Pup sexes (n = total liveborn pups) | 49♂ 47♀ | 96 | 37♂ 37♀ | 74 |
Rates of miscarriage, foetal reabsorption, preterm delivery, stillbirth (# of pregnancies and # of pups), and cumulative adverse outcome are presented as absolute counts with the proportion of the total shown in brackets. Litter size is presented as group means ± SD with smallest to largest litter sizes shown in brackets. The GA of pups at delivery and litter birth weight are presented as group means ± SD. Data were analysed using unpaired t-tests (or the Mann–Whitney test for litter size and GA of pups at delivery). Fisher’s exact test was used to compare proportions. * indicates significance at p < 0.05. † One optimal litter of 6, two optimal litters of 5, three low litters of 1, and two low premature litters were excluded from the analysis of GA of pups at delivery and litter birth weight.