ascorbic-acid and Placental-Insufficiency

We have previously reported a reduced incidence of preeclampsia in women who were at risk and were taking vitamin C (1000 mg/d) and vitamin E (400 IU/d) supplements. In this study, we determined whether supplementation in the same cohort was associated with an improvement in indices of placental dysfunction and oxidative stress toward values determined in women who were at low risk of preeclampsia.. Seventy-nine women who were at high risk and who were taking vitamin supplements and 81 who were taking placebos were compared with 32 women who were at low risk and who were not taking supplements who were studied simultaneously.. Indices of oxidative stress and placental function were abnormal in the placebo group. When the placebo group was compared with the women who were at low risk, ascorbic acid, plasminogen activator inhibitor-2, and placenta growth factor concentrations were decreased; and 8-epi-prostaglandin F(2alpha),leptin, and the plasminogen activator inhibitor-1/-2 ratio were increased. In the group that received vitamin supplements, ascorbic acid, 8-epi-prostaglandin F(2alpha), leptin, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1/-2 values were similar to women who were at low risk.. Antioxidant supplementation in women who were at risk of preeclampsia was associated with improvement in biochemical indices of the disease.

Topics: Adult; Ascorbic Acid; Dietary Supplements; Endometrium; Female; Humans; Leptin; Oxidative Stress; Placenta; Placenta Growth Factor; Placental Insufficiency; Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 2; Pre-Eclampsia; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Proteins; Risk; Vitamin E

Impaired uteroplacental perfusion has been shown to play a role in the pathogenesis of some complicated pregnancies with placenta insufficiency. Apart from this, lower oestrogen, magnesium and zinc are found in many of these conditions in the third trimester with placenta insufficiency. In this study, we examined the effect of a 4 mg intravenous dexamethasone injection on estriol, since maternal cortisol or synthetic corticosteroids cross the placental barrier and inhibit the release of dehydroepiandrostesone sulfate in the fetal adrenals. Dexamathasone was found to suppress estriol levels in all groups but a significant difference in suppression was found between the Chemiron--a new combination hematinic--and the control single iron therapy groups. Our preliminary results showed that Chemiron has a protective effect on the development of placenta insufficiency during the third trimester of pregnancy.

Topics: Adult; Anemia; Ascorbic Acid; Dexamethasone; Drug Combinations; Estriol; Female; Ferrous Compounds; Folic Acid; Hematinics; Humans; Magnesium Sulfate; Placental Insufficiency; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Tests; Pregnancy Trimester, Third; Vitamin B 12; Zinc Sulfate

Epidemiological studies suggest that intrauterine undernutrition plays an important role in the development of arterial hypertension in adulthood. Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) have antioxidant properties that could improve redox-sensitive vascular changes associated with hypertension. The authors determined whether vitamins C and E treatments ameliorate the hypertension and vascular function in male rats submitted to intrauterine undernutrition. Pregnant Wistar rats were fed either normal or 50% of the normal intake diets during the whole gestational period. At 14 weeks of age, male offspring of nutritionally restricted dams were divided into 3 subgroups: vehicle-treated (vehicle for 15 days, by gastric gavage, n = 9), vitamin C-treated (ascorbic acid, 150 mg/Kg/d for 15 days, by gastric gavage, n = 15) and vitamin E-treated (alpha-tocopherol, 350 mg/kg per day for 15 days, by gastric gavage, n = 15). Systolic blood pressure was determined before and after antioxidant treatments by the tail-cuff method. At 16 weeks of age, the rats were used for the study of microvascular reactivity and intravital fluorescence microscopy. Intrauterine undernutrition induced hypertension, and vitamins C or E treatments reduced the blood pressure levels. The decreased acetylcholine and bradykinin-induced vasodilation was restored in the vitamin-treated rats. These effects were associated with decreased vascular superoxide anion concentration. The results show that vitamins C and E reduce oxidative stress and high blood pressure levels, and improve vascular function in intrauterine-undernourished rats.

Topics: Animals; Antioxidants; Ascorbic Acid; Blood Pressure; Endothelium, Vascular; Female; Hypertension; Male; Placental Insufficiency; Pregnancy; Rats; Superoxides; Vitamin E