Plasma vitamin C concentration in pregnant women with pre-eclampsia in Mulago hospital, Kampala, Uganda.
BACKGROUND
Oxidative stress plays a role in the aetiology of pre-eclampsia and vitamin C may prevent pre-eclampsia.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the association between plasma vitamin C and pre-eclampsia in Mulago Hospital, Kampala, Uganda.


METHODS
This case-control study was conducted at Mulago Hospital from 1(st) May 2008 to 1(st) May 2009; 207 women were the cases and 352 women were the controls. Plasma vitamin C was assayed in the women using a colorimetric method. An independent t test was used to find the difference in the means of plasma vitamin C and logistic regression was used to find the association between plasma vitamin C and pre-eclampsia.


RESULTS
The mean plasma vitamin C was 1.7(SD=0.7) × 10(3) µg/L in women with pre-eclampsia and 1.9(SD=0.7) × 10(3) µg/L in women with normal pregnancy (P=0.005). Women with low plasma vitamin C were at an increased risk of pre-eclampsia (OR 2.91, 95% CI: 1.56-5.44).


CONCLUSIONS
There was a strong association between low plasma vitamin C, and pre-eclampsia in women attending antenatal clinics at Mulago Hospital, Kampala. Health workers need to advise women at risk in the antenatal period about diet, especially foods which are rich in vitamin C to probably reduce pre-eclampsia.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda. kiondop@yahoo.com
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Kiondo
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Welishe
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Wandabwa
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Wamuyu-Maina
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Bimenya
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Okong
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D016017:Odds Ratio; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014454:Uganda; D055815:Young Adult
D000975:Antioxidants; D001205:Ascorbic Acid