10.01.10
Nutraceutical: Antioxidant vitamins
Indication: Preeclampsia in diabetic pregnant women
Source: Lancet, July 24, 2010;376(9737):214-16.
Research: Results of several trials of antioxidant use during pregnancy have not shown a reduction in preeclampsia, but the effect in women with diabetes is unknown. In this study, researchers wanted to assess whether supplementation with vitamins C and E could reduce the incidence of preeclampsia in women with type 1 diabetes. The study included 762 women with type 1 diabetes, randomly assigned to take 1000 mg of vitamin C and 400 IU of vitamin E (379 women) or placebo (383 women) daily between 8 and 22 weeks gestation and delivery. The primary endpoint was preeclampsia, which was defined as gestational hypertension with proteinuria.
Results: Rates of preeclampsia did not differ between the vitamin and placebo groups. No adverse maternal or neonatal outcomes were reported. Researchers believe that while supplementation with vitamins C and E did not reduce risk of preeclampsia in women with type 1 diabetes, the possibility that vitamin supplementation might be beneficial in women with a low antioxidant status at baseline needs further testing.