 News
30th March 2006
Vitamins may increase risk of pre-eclampsia
High doses of vitamin supplements may raise the risk of
pre-eclampsia in pregnant women rather than protecting against it, according
to latest research.
A study by children's charity Tommy's, previously found that Vitamins
C and E were thought to cut the risk of pre-eclampsia but this new study
found that women at high-risk should not take large doses of the vitamins.
Up to 25,000 women in the UK every year are affected by the condition
which causes high blood pressure and can be potentially fatal for mother
and baby.
In the latest study, funded by the Wellcome Trust, 2,400 expectant mothers
with high blood pressure, kidney problems, clotting disorders or diabetes
were given either extra vitamin supplements or a placebo.
The team discovered that pre-eclampsia appeared about a week earlier
among those who received the vitamins.
Researcher Professor Lucilla Poston said, "Our findings of an increase
in low birth weight and an increased need for treatment for pre-eclampsia
suggest that these high doses of vitamins C and E do not work in preventing
pre-eclampsia in this high-risk group."
Michael Rich, of the charity Action on Pre-eclampsia, said "Thousands
of women throughout the UK and, indeed the world, will be massively disappointed
to hear the news that the vitamins in pre-eclampsia trial has shown no
benefit.
"We had high hopes for the use of high dose vitamins C and E in reducing
the risk of developing pre-eclampsia.
"However, a good thing that has come out of the trial is that it will
prevent the use of high dose vitamin C and E slipping into clinical practice.
"Careful management has long been seen as the best way to deal with pre-eclampsia
- that remains the same."
Researcher Professor Andrew Shennan stressed there was no evidence that
taking pregnancy-specific multivitamin preparations would produce the
same results and said that pregnant women, and those trying for a baby
must continue to take folic acid supplements to reduce the risk of neural
tube defects, such as spina bifida.
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