beta-carotene and Fetal-Death

Twin pregnancies are common but there are few data on rates of twinning or survival of liveborn twin infants in developing countries.. The rates of multiple births were calculated in a population-based cohort of married women of childbearing age who were enrolled in a randomized community trial to assess the impact of vitamin A or beta-carotene on maternal and infant health and survival.. The rate of twinning was 16.1 per 1000 pregnancies (7.4 if only twin pregnancies resulting in two liveborn infants were used). The rate for triplets and quadruplets was 0.19 and 0.06 per 1000 pregnancies. Twinning rates were higher among women of higher parity, but were not associated with maternal age. Twinning rates among twins where at least one was live born (or increased in utero survival) were 30% (95% CI : -1%, 71%) and 44% (95% CI : 9%, 89%) higher among women receiving vitamin A and beta-carotene supplements than placebo, after adjusting for maternal age, gestational age, and parity. The perinatal mortality rate was 8.54 times higher for twins than singletons, 7.32 higher for neonatal mortality, and 5.84 higher for cumulative 24-week mortality. This difference was reduced but not erased by adjusting for gestational age. No difference in survival of liveborn twin infants was seen by supplement group. A higher mortality rate among male twins was largely explained by gestational age.. Multiple births are relatively common occurrences in rural Nepal, and carry a much higher mortality risk for the infants than for singletons. Vitamin A or beta-carotene supplementation appeared to increase the rate of twinning, or improve the survival of twins in utero, but did not increase twin survival after birth.

Topics: Adult; beta Carotene; Cohort Studies; Dietary Supplements; Female; Fetal Death; Humans; Infant Mortality; Infant, Newborn; Nepal; Parity; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Outcome; Pregnancy, Multiple; Twins; Vitamin A

The effect of vitamin A supplementation on the survival of infants aged <6 mo is unclear. Because most infant deaths occur in the first few month of life, maternal supplementation may improve infant survival.. The objective was to assess the effect of maternal vitamin A or beta-carotene supplementation on fetal loss and survival of infants <6 mo of age.. Married women of reproductive age in 270 wards of Sarlahi district, Nepal, were eligible to participate. Wards were randomly assigned to have women receive weekly doses of 7000 microg retinol equivalents as retinyl palmitate (vitamin A), 42 mg all-trans-beta-carotene, or placebo. Pregnancies were followed until miscarriage, stillbirth, maternal death, or live birth of one or more infants, who were followed through 24 wk of age.. A total of 43559 women were enrolled; 15832 contributed 17373 pregnancies and 15987 live born infants to the trial. The rate of fetal loss was 92.0/1000 pregnancies in the placebo group, comparable with rates in the vitamin A and beta-carotene groups, which had relative risks of 1.06 (95% CI: 0.91, 1.25) and 1.03 (95% CI: 0.87, 1.19), respectively. The 24-wk mortality rate was 70.8/1000 live births in the placebo group, comparable with rates in the vitamin A and beta-carotene groups, which had relative risks of 1.05 (95% CI: 0.87, 1.25) and 1.03 (95% CI: 0.86, 1.22), respectively.. Small weekly doses of vitamin A or beta-carotene given to women before conception, during pregnancy, and through 24 wk postpartum did not improve fetal or early infant survival in Nepal.

Topics: Adult; beta Carotene; Diet; Dietary Supplements; Female; Fetal Death; Humans; Infant Mortality; Infant, Newborn; Nepal; Parity; Placebos; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Outcome; Social Class; Vitamin A

Topics: beta Carotene; Dietary Supplements; Female; Fetal Death; Humans; Hungary; Infant Mortality; Infant, Newborn; Maternal Mortality; Nepal; Neural Tube Defects; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Outcome; Pregnancy, Multiple; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Twins; Vitamin A

The study comprised two parts. Firstly, the effects of dietary supplementation with an algal meal (Novasta) with a high astaxanthin content on ovulation rate (number of corpora lutea, implantation rate, number, mass and length of fetuses) of breeding female mink were evaluated. Secondly, reproductive outcome (number of live and stillborn kits), kit growth rate and milk intake were studied. Both studies were performed on standard brown female mink (n = 20; control (n = 10) and experimental (n = 10)) housed under conventional farm conditions. Experimental animals were supplied with 5.35 mg astaxanthin per day (0.25 g algal meal (Novasta)). The numbers of corpora lutea, implantation sites and fetuses appeared to be higher in the group that was given astaxanthin but the effect was not significant. The differences between treated and control mink were 1.4 (corpora lutea), 0.9 (implantation sites) and 1.2 (litter size). The percentage of stillborn kits was reduced by 6.3 (P < 0.005). The milk intake as measured by use of the isotopic water dilution technique was not affected by treatment group. Milk intake increased from about 19 g in week 1 of lactation to about 30 g per kit per day in week 4 of lactation. Kit weight gain was not affected by the experimental treatment.

Topics: Animals; Animals, Newborn; Antioxidants; beta Carotene; Dietary Supplements; Eating; Female; Fetal Death; Litter Size; Milk; Mink; Ovulation; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Outcome; Reproduction; Xanthophylls