title: Hypericum perforatum use during pregnancy and pregnancy outcome.
abstract: Hypericum perforatum (HP; also known as St. John's Wort) is one of the most commonly used herbal therapies in the management of depressive illness. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential side effects of HP during pregnancy on pregnancy outcome. Using data from the Danish National Birth Cohort (DNBC), we investigated outcomes among 38 HP exposed pregnancies compared to a group of 90,128 women. Associations between HP use and gestational age, preterm birth, birth weight, malformations and Apgar scores were investigated. Preterm birth did not differ across the groups. While the prevalence of malformations in the HP exposed group was slightly higher (8.1%) than observed in the control groups (3.3%; p=0.13), this was based on only three cases and was not of any specific pattern.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Palle Juul-Jensens Blvd. 99, 8200, Aarhus N, Denmark. Electronic address: lkolding@clin.au.dk.
authors.forename: Line
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kolding
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Palle Juul-Jensens Blvd. 99, 8200, Aarhus N, Denmark. Electronic address: Pedersenbd354597@dadlnet.dk.
authors.forename: Lars Henning
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Pedersen
authors.affiliation: Dept. Paediatrics (Intensiv Care Neonatology) and Perinatal Research Unit, Aarhus University Hospital, Skejby, Palle Juul-Jensens Blvd. 99, 8200, Aarhus N, Denmark. Electronic address: tine.brink.henriksen@clin.au.dk.
authors.forename: Tine Brink
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Henriksen
authors.affiliation: The Institute of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology and UCLA, Aarhus University, Bartholin Allé 2, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark. Electronic address: jo@ph.au.dk.
authors.forename: Jørn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Olsen
authors.affiliation: The Robinson Research Institute, School of Paediatrics & Reproductive Health, The University of Adelaide, Australia. Electronic address: luke.grzeskowiak@adelaide.edu.au.
authors.forename: Luke E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Grzeskowiak
mesh_terms: D000014:Abnormalities, Drug-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016208:Databases, Factual; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020902:Hypericum / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Birth outcomes; Human pregnancy; Hypericum perforatun; Malformations; St. John’s Wort