Vitamins E and C prolong latency

Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2005 Jul;90(1):16-20.

Vitamins C and E in the latency period in women with preterm premature rupture of membranes.

Borna S, Borna H, Daneshbodie B.

Department of Perinatology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether supplementation with vitamins C and E after preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) is associated with an increased latency period.

METHODS: In this double-blind, randomized, controlled trial, 60 women with singleton pregnancies of 26 to 34 weeks’ duration and PPROM were randomly assigned to vitamin C (500 mg/day) and vitamin E (400 IU/day) or placebo until delivery. All women received 2 doses of betamethasone in the first 24 h after admission as well as broad-spectrum antibiotic prophylaxis. RESULTS: Important demographic, as well as clinical characteristics such as number of cases of chorioamnionitis, early neonatal sepsis, and respiratory distress syndrome, were similar in the 2 groups. A statically significant difference in the mean+/-S.D. number of days of latency was found between the groups (10.5+/-5.2 days vs. 3.5+/-4.0 days (P = 0.03).

CONCLUSION: Vitamins C and E supplementation of after PPROM is associated with a longer latency before delivery.

PMID: 15907848 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15907848