A meta-analysis on the efficacy and safety of combined vitamin C and E supplementation in preeclamptic women.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate whether vitamin C and E co-supplementation of women at risk of preeclampsia can reduce maternal and neonatal disorders.


METHODS
Electronic databases were searched up to May 2008 to find studies investigating pregnancy outcomes in women at risk of preeclampsia following exposure to combined vitamin C and E supplementation. The outcomes of interest were gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, preterm delivery, small for gestational age, and low birth weight. The relative risk (RR) and confidence interval (CI) for the individual studies were pooled and heterogeneity analysis was performed.


RESULTS
Seven studies involving 5969 pregnant women at risk of preeclampsia were included: 2982 received vitamin C and E and 2987 received placebo. The RRs are 1.3 (95% CI of 1.08-1.57, p = 0.0066) for gestational hypertension, 0.7 (95% CI of 0.58-1.08, P = 0.1653) for preeclampsia, 1.12 (95% CI of 0.96-1.32, p = 0.141) for preterm delivery, 1.04 (95% CI of 0.94-1.15, p = 0.4789) for small for gestational age, and 1.13 (95% CI of 1.004-1.27, p = 0.0429) for low birth weight. CONCLUSION. Combined vitamin C and E supplementation not only have no potential benefit in improvement of maternal and neonatal outcome but increase the risk of gestational hypertension in women at risk of preeclampsia and low birth weight in neonates.
Faculty of Pharmacy, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Roja
R
Rahimi
Shekoufeh
S
Nikfar
Ali
A
Rezaie
Mohammad
M
Abdollahi
D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000009:adverse effects; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011247:Pregnancy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects
D014815:Vitamins; D014810:Vitamin E; D001205:Ascorbic Acid