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Am J Perinatol
DOI: 10.1055/a-2509-1828
Original Article

The Effect of Maternal Antioxidant Vitamin Supplementation on Maternal and Cord Blood Adiponectin Concentrations

Jessica L. Pippen 
1   Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
,
Paula McGee
2   The George Washington University Biostatistics Center, Washington, District of Columbia
,
James M. Roberts
3   University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
,
Leslie Myatt
4   University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
,
Michael W. Varner 
5   University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
,
Alan T.N. Tita
6   University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
,
Ronald J. Wapner
7   Columbia University, New York, New York
,
John M. Thorp Jr.
8   University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
,
Brian M. Mercer
9   Case Western Reserve University-MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio
,
Beth A. Plunkett
10   Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
,
Sean C. Blackwell
11   University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas
,
Anthony Sciscione
12   Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
,
George R. Saade
13   University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas
,
for the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health Human Development Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units Network › Author Affiliations Funding The project described was supported by grants from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) (U10 HD034208, U10 HD027869, U10 HD040485, U10 HD040560, U10 HD040544, U10 HD034116, U10 HD040512, U10 HD021410, U10 HD040545, U10 HD040500, U10 HD027915, U10 HD034136, U10 HD027860, U10 HD053118, U10 HD053097, U10 HD027917, and U01 HD036801); the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; and the National Center for Research Resources (M01 RR00080, UL1 RR024153, UL1 RR024989). Comments and views of the authors do not necessarily represent the views of the NIH.
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Abstract

Objective

Adiponectin is a hormone that modulates glucose regulation and fatty acid oxidation. Low adiponectin concentration has been associated with increased insulin resistance. Studies show a beneficial effect of vitamin E supplementation on insulin sensitivity. We aimed to investigate the association of prenatal antioxidant supplementation with increased adiponectin concentrations in pregnant participants and their newborn infants.

Study Design

Secondary analysis of a randomized control trial of prenatal vitamin C and E supplementation to prevent preeclampsia in low-risk nulliparous participants. Plasma of participants at time of randomization (9–16 weeks gestation) and delivery, and neonatal cord blood were analyzed by specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for adiponectin concentration. Multivariable analysis was adjusted for confounders.

Results

A total of 198 (98 vitamin, 100 placebo) maternal–neonatal dyad samples were analyzed. Maternal and neonatal characteristics were similar between the vitamin and placebo groups, with the exception of race/ethnicity, with Whites more common in the placebo group (80 vs. 66.3%, p = 0.02). In bivariable analyses, adiponectin concentrations at delivery were higher in the vitamin group compared with the placebo group (29.4 vs. 27.5 µg/mL, p = 0.04), whereas cord blood adiponectin concentrations were similar (26.6 . vs. 27.4 µg/mL, p = 0.47) between the two groups. There was a significant interaction between treatment group and maternal baseline adiponectin level on the adiponectin concentrations at delivery (p = 0.04) and cord blood adiponectin (p < 0.05). For participants whose baseline adiponectin concentrations were in the highest tertile, vitamin supplementation was associated with higher adiponectin concentrations at delivery. However, for participants whose baseline adiponectin concentration were in the lowest tertile, vitamin supplementation was associated with lower cord blood adiponectin concentrations.

Conclusion

For participants with high baseline adiponectin concentration, vitamin C and E supplementation is associated with higher adiponectin concentration at delivery. Conversely, vitamin supplementation is associated with lower cord adiponectin concentration among participants with low baseline adiponectin concentration.

Key Points

  • Vitamin E is an antioxidant with metabolic properties.

  • Adiponectin is a cytokine with metabolic properties.

  • Vitamin E is associated with higher pregnancy adiponectin.

  • Vitamin E is associated with lower neonatal adiponectin.

  • Vitamin E correlated with positive pregnancy and neonatal adiponectin trends.

Keywords

neonate - adiponectin - vitamin C and E - antioxidant

Supplementary Material



Publication History

Received: 01 December 2023

Accepted: 31 December 2024

Article published online:
06 March 2025

© 2025. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.
333 Seventh Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10001, USA

 

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