A new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition last December found a positive coorelation between maternal levels of Vitamin E and fetal growth.
Researchers in New Jersey gathered information on more than 1200 pregnant women starting around 28 weeks gestation. Levels of two different forms of Vitamin E were measured in their blood and pregnancy outcomes were analyzed for any associations.
Women who had higher levels of alpha-tocopherol, a synthetic form of Vitamin E usually found in supplements had less chance of birthing a small for gestational age baby. The risk was decreased by 3 times compared to women with the lowest levels. On average these women tended to have bigger babies, regardless of other factors.
There was not a relationship between the Vitamin E that is found naturally in food.
The researchers suggested two possible mechanisms to explain this finding. Women with higher levels of Vitamin E in their blood may be healthier, so they my grow healthier babies. Small for gestational age babies do tend to be less healthy than their bulkier counterparts. It is possible that a healthier diet could cause this effect, but levels of Vitamin E from the diet did not effect weight. So the second suggestion is that Vitamin E levels directly influence growth of the developing fetus. This may be accomplished via improved blood flow and placental function.
More trials are needed to understand the relationship between Vitamin E and fetal growth. The authors caution against taking extra Vitamin E, due to other studies that have found levels that are too high may result in other health conditions.
Posted by Dr. Christina Gutierrez on January 22, 2007 04:59 PM
