The plasma antioxidant vitamin status of the INTAPP cohort examined: The unsuspected importance of β-carotene and γ-tocopherol in preeclampsia

Pregnancy Hypertens. 2021 Aug:25:213-218. doi: 10.1016/j.preghy.2021.06.009. Epub 2021 Jun 12.

Abstract

Objective: Examine the levels of plasma antioxidant vitamins before and during a treatment with placebo or vitamin E + C supplement to prevent preeclampsia (PE).

Study design: Per-protocol analysis of a subset group of pregnant women (n = 295) from the International Trial of Antioxidants for the Prevention of PE (INTAPP) randomized case-control study. Normotensive receiving placebo or vitamins (n = 115 and 87 respectively) were compared to gestational hypertension (GH) without proteinuria (n = 30 and 27) and PE (n = 21 and 15). Vitamin quantification was performed at 12-18, 24-26 and 32-34 weeks of gestation.

Main outcome measures: Coenzyme (Co) Q10, β-carotene and vitamins E (α and γ forms) plasma levels.

Results: Vitamin E + C supplementation was found to increase the α-tocopherol levels by 40% but was associated with a 57% decrease in the γ-tocopherol isoform for all study groups (p < 0.001). The β -carotene was lower in the PE than in the normotensive and GH groups (p < 0.001) while the level of CoQ10 remained unaffected.

Conclusions: A more personalized approach that target the suboptimal levels of specific antioxidants without disturbing the α/γ-tocopherol ratio could be a more successful approach to counteract oxidative stress in PE.

Keywords: Antioxidants; Hypertension; Oxidative stress; Pregnancy.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antioxidants / administration & dosage*
  • Cohort Studies
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Pre-Eclampsia / blood
  • Pre-Eclampsia / diagnosis*
  • Pregnancy
  • Prenatal Diagnosis*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vitamins / administration & dosage*
  • Vitamins / blood
  • alpha-Tocopherol / blood
  • beta Carotene / blood

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Vitamins
  • beta Carotene
  • alpha-Tocopherol