Taking high doses of vitamins C and E during pregnancy do not change a woman's risk of preterm delivery.
Past studies have found a connection between vitamin C deficiency and an elevated risk of preterm birth. In addition, vitamin C has been thought to play a role in maintaining the placenta and the membranes that surround the fetus during pregnancy.
To study the association between vitamins C and E supplements and risk of preterm birth, researchers followed 10,154 pregnant women, who took either a combination of vitamins C and E or inactive placebo pills beginning between the 9th and 16th week of pregnancy. All of the women had uncomplicated pregnancies and did not have a higher risk of preterm delivery. Women in the vitamin group took 1,000 mg of vitamin C and 400 IU of vitamin E per day.
It was found that a total of 1,038 women delivered preterm, of whom 698 had spontaneous preterm birth. Overall, 7 percent of women in both the vitamin and placebo groups had a preterm birth.
The study shows that vitamins C and E have no role in lowering the risk of preterm birth.
Past studies have found a connection between vitamin C deficiency and an elevated risk of preterm birth. In addition, vitamin C has been thought to play a role in maintaining the placenta and the membranes that surround the fetus during pregnancy.
To study the association between vitamins C and E supplements and risk of preterm birth, researchers followed 10,154 pregnant women, who took either a combination of vitamins C and E or inactive placebo pills beginning between the 9th and 16th week of pregnancy. All of the women had uncomplicated pregnancies and did not have a higher risk of preterm delivery. Women in the vitamin group took 1,000 mg of vitamin C and 400 IU of vitamin E per day.
It was found that a total of 1,038 women delivered preterm, of whom 698 had spontaneous preterm birth. Overall, 7 percent of women in both the vitamin and placebo groups had a preterm birth.
The study shows that vitamins C and E have no role in lowering the risk of preterm birth.