Supplements May Not Reduce Preeclampsia Risk

Taking supplements may not save pregnant women from preeclampsia, according to recent research. A potentially fatal disorder, preeclampsia is a condition in which pregnant women experience a sudden increase in blood pressure during pregnancy.

The study involved 9,969 women, all of whom were giving birth for the first time (a group at higher risk for hypertensive problems during pregnancy). Overall, the women were healthy and did not have High Blood Pressure.

Starting in the ninth to sixteenth weeks of their pregnancy, the women received daily supplements of vitamins C and E or a placebo.

According to the study’s authors, the supplements contained about 10 times the amount of C and E found in typical prenatal vitamins. Although the vitamins are thought to reduce preeclampsia risk by preventing fighting off free radicals, the researchers found that rates of preeclampsia and pregnancy-associated hypertension did not differ between the supplement group and the placebo group.

There are no proven ways to prevent preeclampsia. However, some research suggests that stress management may offer some protection against the condition. To keep your stress in check, consider practicing a mind-body technique such as yoga or meditation.

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By Cathy Wong, About.com Guide to Alternative Medicine