Vitamin C Prevents Pregnancy Complication

Women who supplement with a small amount of vitamin C during the second half of pregnancy reduce their risk of one contributor to premature birth, according to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2005; 81:859?63).

The end of pregnancy and the beginning of the birth process is marked by rupture of the walls (membranes) of the sac that holds the growing fetus and the amniotic fluid. A healthy pregnancy usually lasts around 40 weeks. Premature birth occurs when the membranes rupture and birth begins before 37 weeks of pregnancy. PROM (premature rupture of the membranes) occurs in 10 to 20% of pregnancies worldwide and is the most common cause of premature births. Babies born prematurely face many health risks including underdeveloped lungs which do not function properly, increased susceptibility to infections and difficulty with nursing. Vaginal infection, smoking and poor maternal nutrition can all increase the risk of PROM.

Studies have suggested that inadequate levels of vitamin C in the cells of pregnant women might be linked to increased PROM risk. Vitamin C, an antioxidant nutrient found in fruits and vegetables, plays an important role in the production and repair of connective tissues throughout the body and is believed to be critical to the maintenance of the fetal sac membranes. In one study, women with high dietary intake of vitamin C were less likely to experience PROM than women with low intake. The effect of vitamin C supplementation on risk of PROM has not been previously studied.

In the current study, 120 healthy women who were less than 20 weeks pregnant were randomly assigned to receive either 100 mg of vitamin C per day or placebo. Each woman was evaluated upon entry to the study and every four weeks from week 20 of their pregnancy until delivery. PROM incidence was 74% lower in the women taking vitamin C than in the women receiving placebo (7.69% versus 24.5%). The incidence of premature births was also lower in the vitamin C group than in the placebo group (13.4% versus 24%); however, this 44% reduction in risk was not statistically significant because of the small number of people studied.

The results of this study suggest that supplementing with vitamin C can reduce the risk of PROM. Since PROM is involved in more than 40% of all premature births, it is possible that small amounts of supplemental vitamin C might help prevent premature births. A larger study is needed to determine this more definitively.

Vitamin Herb University is the premier online course and informational resource for dietary supplements, supplement reviews, vitamin information, herb information, and drug herb interaction.

---

Postpartum Depression - Recognizing The Signs

In some cases, bringing home your brand new baby doesn't... Read More

What is an Ectopic Pregnancy?

Ectopic is another way of saying "out of place". An... Read More

Maintaining Balance During Your Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a beautiful time. And it is also a... Read More

The First Warning Signs of Pregnancy

Pregnancy can be exciting or daunting, depending on the circumstances.... Read More

Its Not A Sin For Pregnant Women To Have A Massage

Getting pregnant is really a moment of joy. Don't get... Read More

Why Shouldnt I Smoke During Pregnancy?

There are a lot of good reasons to quit smoking,... Read More

Calcium and Pregnancy

Studies show that most women do not get enough daily... Read More

Why Pregnant Women Get Stressed and Depressed?

If you are a pregnant mother or soon will be,... Read More

Obesity And Pregnancy

If you are overweight when you become pregnant, your physician... Read More

Very Early Symptoms of Pregnancy - Do You Know These Very Early Pregnancy Signs?

Very early symptoms of pregnancy -- what are they? If... Read More

Your Role as an Expectant Father

Quite often expectant fathers get bent out of shape over... Read More

Delight in Pregnancy Bedrest

My first experience with bedrest was at 30 weeks into... Read More

Dietary Precautions During Pregnancy

When you are pregnant, you should be sure to wash... Read More

Weight Loss After Pregnancy - The Importance Of Setting Goals

One of the best things you can do is set... Read More

The Stages of Pregnancy

There are three distinct stages of pregnancy, called trimesters, each... Read More

Will I Get Stretch Marks? If I Do, What Can I Do?

It doesn't seem possible at the outset of pregnancy, but... Read More

What Would I Do Without My Doula?

By the time my husband and I finally got pregnant... Read More

Exclusively Pumping Breast Milk: Why Women Do It

Exclusively pumping breast milk is best thought of as an... Read More

Morning Sickness Survival Tips

"Just eat a few saltines and you'll be ok".I don't... Read More

How To Avoid Swelling When Pregnant

Edema, otherwise known as swelling, will affect almost all women... Read More

Pregnancy Planner - A Quick Guide

Weeks 1 to 3 are the first weeks of pregnancy.... Read More

Pregnancy Symptoms

There are many early signs that you may be pregnant.... Read More

How do Pregnancy Tests Work?

Pregnancy tests identify a special hormone in the blood or... Read More

Weight Gain During Pregnancy: Choosing The Right Foods

So you need to gain weight but don't want to... Read More

How Do I Date My Pregnancy?

Accurate dating of pregnancy is one of the most important... Read More

Smoking During Pregnancy

If you have been drinking up until the point when... Read More

Reducing Your Pain In Childbirth

Pain is the word most associated with labor. Women go... Read More

Glutathione for a Healthier Pregnancy

All parents-to-be nurture the dream of a healthy pregnancy and... Read More

Morbidly Obese and Suffering Pregnancy Complications? Consider Gastric Bypass

Obese and morbidly obese women are more likely to have... Read More

Extent of Pregnancy Prejudice

Extent of pregnancy prejudice in Britain's workplacesEach year around 30,000... Read More

Stress And Pregnancy

Stress Relief During Pregnancy If you truly want to ensure... Read More

Avoiding Episiotomy During Childbirth

I coached as my wife was delivering our third child.... Read More

So You Think You?re Pregnant? A Brief Discussion Of Common Pregnancy Symptoms

A baby begins life even before he is born ?... Read More