Daily intake of 100 mg ascorbic acid as urinary tract infection prophylactic agent during pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the role a daily intake of 100 mg of ascorbic acid plays in urinary infection prophylaxis during pregnancy.


METHODS
A single-blind clinical trial was carried out on pregnant women randomly assigned to the following treatment groups - Group A: oral treatment with ferrous sulphate (200 mg per day), folic acid (5 mg per day) and ascorbic acid (100 mg per day) for 3 months, and Group B: oral treatment with ferrous sulphate (200 mg per day) and folic acid (5 mg per day) for 3 months. All patients were clinically evaluated, and a urine culture was carried out each month for a period of 3 months. The chi(2) and odds ratio were used to compare effects with and without ascorbic acid, and statistical significance was considered at p<0.05.


RESULTS
Global frequency of urinary infections was 25%. The presence of urinary infections in Group A (12.7%) was significantly lower than in Group B (29.1%), (p=0.03, OR =0.35, CI 95% =0.13-0.91).


CONCLUSIONS
Daily intake of 100 mg of ascorbic acid played an important role in the reduction of urinary infections, improving the health level of the gestating women. We recommend additional vitamin C intake for pregnant women in populations which have a high incidence of bacteriuria and urinary infections.
Ochoa-Brust
Gonzalo Javier
GJ
Centro Universitario de Investigaciones Biomédicas y Facultad de Enfermería, Universidad de Colima, Colima, México.
Fernández
Alma Rosa
AR
Villanueva-Ruiz
Gerson Jesús
GJ
Velasco
Raymundo
R
Trujillo-Hernández
Benjamín
B
Vásquez
Clemente
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000652:urine; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000652:urine; D014556:Urine / Q000382:microbiology; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D014815:Vitamins; D001205:Ascorbic Acid