Dietary consumption and plasma concentrations of vitamin E in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia.
OBJECTIVE
Vitamin E, a potent antioxidant, has been suggested to play a role in preventing preeclampsia. Our aim was to determine whether consumption and plasma levels of vitamin E are lower in the preeclamptic than in normal women.


METHODS
A case-control study design was used. We identified 48 women with preeclampsia (late-pregnancy hypertension, proteinuria, and hyperuricemia). Ninety normal women served as the control group. Vitamin E consumption was estimated by use of a previously validated dietary recall questionnaire administered by a single trained research nurse to 42 of the preeclamptic women and all 90 of the control women. Blood was drawn from all women and stored until assayed at -70 degrees C. Plasma vitamin E concentrations were determined by use of high-pressure liquid chromatography.


RESULTS
The mean dietary vitamin E consumption was similar for both the preeclamptic and control group (11.74 +/- 9.39 vs 11.34 +/- 7.51 mg/24 hr, p = 0.73). When the analysis also included estimations of vitamin E supplements, the total consumption was found to be higher in those who had preeclampsia than in controls (37.20 +/- 20.54 vs 22.3 +/- 27.24 mg/24 hr, p = 0.003). The mean plasma vitamin E concentration was significantly higher in preeclamptic than in control patients (1.41 +/- 0.39 vs 1.15 +/- 0.32 mg/dl, p < 0.001). Among the preeclamptic patients, those with severe disease associated with HELLP (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets) syndrome (n = 11) had the highest plasma vitamin E concentrations.


CONCLUSIONS
We found no evidence that low vitamin E consumption is related to the development of preeclampsia. Higher plasma vitamin E concentrations in preeclamptic patients are speculated to represent a response to oxidative stress.
Schiff
E
E
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Tennessee, Memphis 38103, USA.
Friedman
S A
SA
Stampfer
M
M
Kao
L
L
Barrett
P H
PH
Sibai
B M
BM
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D017359:HELLP Syndrome / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012016:Reference Values; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood*
D014810:Vitamin E