Prevention of striae gravidarum with cocoa butter cream.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether cocoa butter cream is effective in preventing striae gravidarum.


METHODS
This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial enrolled 300 pregnant women: 150 women received cocoa butter cream and 150 women received a placebo cream. The women were followed-up from 16 weeks of pregnancy to delivery to assess the development of striae gravidarum. Maternal height, weight, and abdominal girth were recorded at each visit. After delivery the placenta was weighed, and anthropometry and Apgar scores of the neonate were recorded.


RESULTS
The 2 groups had similar clinical parameters at booking. Striae gravidarum developed in 44% of patients using cocoa butter cream compared with 55% of those using placebo; the difference was not significant (chi(2)=2.8, df(1), P=0.09). Striae gravidarum were more common among younger women and those with large neonates. However, no relationship was found between development of striae and body mass index.


CONCLUSIONS
Cocoa butter cream does not prevent striae gravidarum. In Afro-Caribbean women, development of striae is related to young age of the mother and large neonates.
Buchanan
Keisha
K
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston, Jamaica.
Fletcher
Horace M
HM
Reid
Marvin
M
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000886:Anthropometry; D001724:Birth Weight; D044383:Black People; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007563:Jamaica; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000379:methods*; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D055815:Young Adult
D004041:Dietary Fats; C052387:cocoa butter