Vitamin E supplementation in pregnancy.

Study answer

What this study found

Routine vitamin E supplementation during pregnancy, mainly in combination with vitamin C, did not improve the main pregnancy outcomes studied. It did not reduce stillbirth, neonatal death, preterm birth, preeclampsia, preterm or term prelabour rupture of membranes, or poor fetal growth. Vitamin E was associated with a reduced risk of placental abruption, but it may increase term prelabour rupture of membranes and abdominal pain. Overall, there is no convincing evidence of important benefit, and data for vitamin E alone are unavailable.

Study & population

Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials in pregnant women from 15 countries.

Intervention

Vitamin E supplementation was evaluated during pregnancy, usually as a daily oral antioxidant regimen combined with vitamin C.

Key limitation

Most trials tested vitamin E together with vitamin C or other agents rather than vitamin E alone, limiting attribution to vitamin E itself.

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Original abstract