Research paper
Antioxidants for preventing pre-eclampsia.
Study answer
What this study found
Routine antioxidant supplementation in pregnancy did not clearly prevent pre-eclampsia. The pooled effect for pre-eclampsia was RR 0.73, 95% CI 0.51 to 1.06 across nine trials and 5446 women, with no clear benefit for severe pre-eclampsia, small-for-gestational-age birth, or baby death. Antioxidants were associated with more antihypertensive therapy (RR 1.77, 95% CI 1.22 to 2.57) and more antenatal hospital admission for hypertension (RR 1.54, 95% CI 1.00 to 2.39); preterm birth also trended slightly higher (RR 1.10, 95% CI 0.99 to 1.22). Small single-trial signals suggested possible benefit…
- Study & population
- Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials in pregnant women at low, moderate, or high risk of pre-eclampsia.
- Intervention
- Oral antioxidant supplementation during pregnancy, most commonly vitamin C 1000 mg plus vitamin E 400 IU daily, with other trials using lycopene, selenium, red palm oil containing a tocotrienol-rich fraction, or multivitamin regimens.
- Key limitation
- The evidence base was heterogeneous, with different antioxidants, doses, cointerventions, and starting times across mostly small trials.
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Open PDFOriginal abstract
BACKGROUND Oxidative stress has been proposed as a key factor involved in the development of pre-eclampsia. Supplementing women with antioxidants during pregnancy may help to counteract oxidative stress and thereby prevent or delay the onset of pre-e…