DIETARY CONSUMPTION AND PLASMA-CONCENTRATIONS OF VITAMIN-E IN PREGNANCIES COMPLICATED BY PREECLAMPSIA

OBJECTIVE: Vitamin E, a potent antioxidant, has been suggested to play a role in preventing preeclampsia. Our aim was to determine whether c onsumption and plasma levels of vitamin E are lower in preeclamptic th an in normal women. STUDY DESIGN: A case-control study design was used , We identified 48 women with preeclampsia (late-pregnancy hypertensio n, proteinuria, and hyperuricemia). Ninety normal women served as the control group. Vitamin E consumption was estimated by use of a previou sly validated dietary recall questionnaire administered by a single tr ained research nurse to 42 of the preeclamptic women and all 90 of the control women. Blood was drawn from all women and stored until assaye d at -70 degrees C. Plasma vitamin E concentrations were determined by use of high-pressure liquid chromatography. RESULTS: The mean dietary vitamin E consumption was similar for both the preeclamptic and contr ol groups (11.74 +/- 9.39 vs 11.34 +/- 7.51 mg/24 hr, p = 0.73). When the analysis also included estimations of vitamin E supplements, the t otal consumption was found to be higher in those who had preeclampsia than in controls (37.20 +/- 20.54 vs 22.3 +/- 27.24 mg/24 hr, p = 0.00 3). The mean plasma vitamin E concentration was significantly higher i n preeclamptic than in control patients (1.41 +/- 0.39 vs 1.15 +/- 0.3 2 mg/dl, p < 0.001). Among the preeclamptic patients, those with sever e disease associated with HELLP (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, an d low platelets) syndrome (n = 11) had the highest plasma vitamin E co ncentrations. CONCLUSIONS: We found no evidence that low vitamin E con sumption is related to the development of preeclampsia. Higher plasma vitamin E concentrations in preeclamptic patients are speculated to re present a response to oxidative stress.