title: Increased vitamin E intake is associated with higher alpha-tocopherol concentration in the maternal circulation but higher alpha-carboxyethyl hydroxychroman concentration in the fetal circulation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The transfer of vitamin E across the placenta is limited, but no data exist on the concentrations of vitamin E metabolites carboxyethyl hydroxychromans (α- and γ-CEHCs) in the fetal circulation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We measured α- and γ-CEHC concentrations in maternal and umbilical cord blood pairs and examined their relations to circulating vitamin E (α- and γ-tocopherol) and maternal dietary vitamin E intake.
  
  
  METHODS
  Healthy, pregnant women were enrolled from Oregon Health and Science University's obstetric clinic (<22 wk gestation), and at least one fasting blood sample and a previous day's 24-h diet recall were collected during their pregnancy (n = 19). Umbilical cord blood samples were obtained at the time of delivery and were analyzed for α- and γ-tocopherol, α- and γ-CEHC, and total lipid concentrations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean (±SD) concentrations of umbilical cord blood α-CEHC (30.2 ± 28.9 nmol/L) and γ-CEHC (104.5 ± 61.3 nmol/L) were not significantly different from maternal concentrations (P = 0.07 and 0.08, respectively), but metabolite:tocopherol ratios were significantly higher in cord blood (P < 0.01 and 0.001, respectively). Maternal α-tocopherol:total lipids ratios were correlated with cord blood α-CEHCs (r = 0.67, P = 0.004), and higher vitamin E intakes were associated with higher cord blood α-CEHC concentrations (r = 0.75, P < 0.003).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Higher maternal intake of vitamin E during pregnancy may result in increased metabolite concentrations in the fetal circulation, suggesting increased maternal or fetal liver metabolism of vitamin E. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00632476.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Programs in Human Nutrition, School of Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA.
authors.forename: Svetlana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Didenco
authors.forename: Melanie B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Gillingham
authors.forename: Mitzi D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Go
authors.forename: Scott W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Leonard
authors.forename: Maret G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Traber
authors.forename: Cindy T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: McEvoy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002839:Chromans / Q000097:blood*; D004032:Diet; D015930:Diet Records; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D014470:Umbilical Cord; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D055815:Young Adult; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D002839:Chromans; D008055:Lipids; C483420:carboxyethyl-hydroxychroman; D014810:Vitamin E; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol