Vitamin C Supplementation in Pregnancy—Does It Decrease Rates of Preterm Birth? A Systematic Review

Swaney, Paul; Thorp, John M.; Allen, Ian M.

doi:10.1055/s-0033-1338171

Cited by 7 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…In total, 124 records were excluded at full-text review, including a mismatch in populations in a single study (i.e., supplementing infants), three in intervention (dietary interventions not reported separately), three in comparator (compared dosages, thus supplement given to both intervention and control), 12, which did not report outcomes of interest (i.e., infant mortality), 19 in study design (i.e., observational studies, commentary) and 48 duplicates and older versions of Cochrane reviews ( Table S3 ). Nineteen umbrella reviews [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 ] were excluded and 19 reviews that did not report meta-analyses of RCTs (narrative syntheses only, meta-analysis of observational studies or combined observational and RCTs) (vitamin A [ 35 , 36 , 37 ], vitamin B6 and/or 12 [ 35 , 38 ], vitamin C and/or E [ 35 , 38 , 39 ], vitamin D and/or calcium [ 35 , 37 , 40 , 41 , 42 ], iron and/or folic acid [ 35 , 37 , 41 , 43 , 44 ], magnesium [ 35 , 37 ], zinc [ 45 , 46 , 47 ], MMN […”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Maternal Nutritional Supplements and Dietary Interventions on Placental Complications: An Umbrella Review, Meta-Analysis and Evidence Map

et al. 2021

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The placenta is a vital, multi-functional organ that acts as an interface between maternal and fetal circulation during pregnancy. Nutritional deficiencies during pregnancy alter placental development and function, leading to adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as pre-eclampsia, infants with small for gestational age and low birthweight, preterm birth, stillbirths and maternal mortality. Maternal nutritional supplementation may help to mitigate the risks, but the evidence base is difficult to navigate. The primary purpose of this umbrella review is to map the evidence on the effects of maternal nutritional supplements and dietary interventions on pregnancy outcomes related to placental disorders and maternal mortality. A systematic search was performed on seven electronic databases, the PROSPERO register and references lists of identified papers. The results were screened in a three-stage process based on title, abstract and full-text by two independent reviewers. Randomized controlled trial meta-analyses on the efficacy of maternal nutritional supplements or dietary interventions were included. There were 91 meta-analyses included, covering 23 types of supplements and three types of dietary interventions. We found evidence that supports supplementary vitamin D and/or calcium, omega-3, multiple micronutrients, lipid-based nutrients, and balanced protein energy in reducing the risks of adverse maternal and fetal health outcomes. However, these findings are limited by poor quality of evidence. Nutrient combinations show promise and support a paradigm shift to maternal dietary balance, rather than single micronutrient deficiencies, to improve maternal and fetal health. The review is registered at PROSPERO (CRD42020160887).

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Maternal Nutritional Supplements and Dietary Interventions on Placental Complications: An Umbrella Review, Meta-Analysis and Evidence Map

et al. 2021

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“…[ 27 ] However, another study was of the contrary and does not support Vitamin C use for management or prevention of PPROM. [ 28 ]…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Low serum Vitamin C status among pregnant women attending antenatal care at general hospital Dawakin Kudu, Northwest Nigeria

2016

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Background:Vitamin C levels are low in pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to determine serum Vitamins C levels among pregnant women attending antenatal care at a General Hospital in Dawakin Kudu, Kano, and this can help further research to determine the place of Vitamin C supplementation in pregnancy.Methods:This was a prospective study of 400 pregnant women who presented for antenatal care in General Hospital Dawakin Kudu, Kano, Nigeria. Research structured questionnaire was administered to 400 respondents. Determination of serum Vitamin C was done using appropriate biochemical methods.Results:Vitamin C deficiency was found in 79.5% of the participants. The values for Vitamin C were 0.20 ± 0.18 mg/dl during the first trimester, 0.50 ± 0.99 mg/dl in the second trimester, and 0.35 ± 0.36 mg/dl in the third trimester and P = 0.001.Conclusions:There is a significant reduction in the serum Vitamins C concentration throughout the period of pregnancy with the highest levels in the second trimester. Therefore, Vitamin C supplementation is suggested during pregnancy, especially for those whose fruit and vegetable consumption is inadequate.

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“…Currently, it is not clear how much ascorbate is really needed from diet and/or supplements to completely satisfy the requirement of TETs in the prevention of potential embryonic defects caused by inappropriate DNA demethylation. Due to the fact that ascorbate consumption from dietary sources is almost impossible to control quantitatively in human subjects, a recent review of 7 studies concluded that ascorbate supplementation does not exert obvious benefits to prevent preterm birth [138]. No significant difference was found in neonatal outcomes from the women supplemented with ascorbate in other studies [30].…”

Section: Epigenetic Regulation Of Ascorbate In Embryonic Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

The epigenetic role of vitamin C in health and disease

Camarena

Wang

2016

Cell. Mol. Life Sci.

185

125

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Recent advances have uncovered a previously unknown function of vitamin C in epigenetic regulation. Vitamin C exists predominantly as an ascorbate anion under physiological pH conditions. Ascorbate was discovered as a cofactor for methylcytosine dioxygenases that are responsible for DNA demethylation, and also as a likely cofactor for some JmjC domain-containing histone demethylases that catalyze histone demethylation. Variation in ascorbate bioavailability thus can influence the demethylation of both DNA and histone, further leading to different phenotypic presentations. Ascorbate deficiency can be presented systematically, spatially and temporally in different tissues at the different stages of development and aging. Here, we review how ascorbate deficiency could potentially be involved in embryonic and postnatal development, and plays a role in various diseases such as neurodegeneration and cancer through epigenetic dysregulation.

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Vitamin C Supplementation in Pregnancy—Does It Decrease Rates of Preterm Birth? A Systematic Review

Abstract: The available evidence supports no benefit gained from using vitamin C to prevent preterm birth. Evidence does not support limiting use of vitamin C supplementation for other indications.

Cited by 7 publications

References 29 publications

Effects of Maternal Nutritional Supplements and Dietary Interventions on Placental Complications: An Umbrella Review, Meta-Analysis and Evidence Map

Effects of Maternal Nutritional Supplements and Dietary Interventions on Placental Complications: An Umbrella Review, Meta-Analysis and Evidence Map

Low serum Vitamin C status among pregnant women attending antenatal care at general hospital Dawakin Kudu, Northwest Nigeria

The epigenetic role of vitamin C in health and disease

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