Pregnancy outcome following high doses of Vitamin E supplementation.
The recommended dose of Vitamin E in human pregnancy is 22-30 mg/day. High doses of Vitamin E (>or=400 IU/day) have been shown to attenuate or even prevent the damaging effect of ethanol and diabetes on the fetus in experimental animal models. The Motherisk program prospectively enrolled, and followed-up on, 82 pregnant women exposed to high doses (>or=400 IU/day) of Vitamin E during the first trimester of pregnancy. Pregnancy outcome was compared to a matched control group. The study group (n=82) was exposed to Vitamin E at doses ranging from 400-1200 IU/day. There was one pregnancy with major malformation (omphalocele) in study group. There was an apparent decrease in mean birth weight (3173+/-467 g) in Vitamin E group as compare to control (3417+/-565 g; P=0.0015); however, there were no significant differences in rates of live births, preterm deliveries, miscarriages and stillbirths. Therefore, it is concluded that consumption of high doses of Vitamin E during the first trimester of pregnancy does not appear to be associated with an increased risk for major malformations, but may be associated with decrease in birth weight.
Boskovic
Rada
R
Department of Clinical Pharmacology, The Motherisk Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont., M5G 1X8, Canada.
Gargaun
Liubov
L
Oren
Dana
D
Djulus
Josephine
J
Koren
Gideon
G
D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D000975:Antioxidants; D014810:Vitamin E