Recent study has shown that deficiency of vitamin C can have negative effect on the brain development of the new born babies. It also increases risk of neurologic disabilities in later life.

Researchers from the Faculty of Life Sciences at University of Copenhagen studied the effect of vitamin C deficiency on guinea pigs. These animals were specially selected for the study because like human beings they can’t produce vitamin C in their bodies hence they are dependent on the diet for the vitamin.

For the study, 30 newborn guinea pigs were divided into two groups. The first group was given a normal diet with sufficient vitamin C while the second group was given vitamin C deficient diet.

Researchers analyzed the brain of guinea pigs after two months. The hippocampal neuron numbers were measured. Their cognitive abilities were tested through water maze.

It was found that guinea pigs given vitamin C deficient diet showed 30 percent less hippocampal neurons along with worse spatial memory as compared to guinea pigs given diet with sufficient vitamin C. The animals on vitamin C deficient diet also performed poorly in maze.