[Relationship between micronutrients supplementation during periconceptional period and serum concentration of vitamin E in the 1st trimester of gestational period].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the association of maternal periconceptional folic acid or multiple micronutrients supplementation during periconceptional period and the serum vitamin E (Vit.E) concentration in the 1st trimester of gestational period.
METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted based on the prenatal health care system and clinical laboratory information system. Totally, 22 171 pregnant women who had their prenatal health care and gave birth in Tongzhou Maternal & Child Health Hospital of Beijing from Jan. 2016 to Dec. 2018 were recruited. The usage patterns of nutritional supplements [folic acid (FA) or multiple micronutrients (MM)] during periconceptional period were independent variables, and serum Vit.E concentration and serum Vit.E concentration≥11.2 mg/L in the 1st trimester of gestational period were outcome variables for generalized linear regression model and Logistic regression model, respectively, to analyze the relationships between the independent and outcome variables.
RESULTS: The range of the serum Vit.E concentration in the 1st trimester of gestational period was 5.2-24.0 mg/L, and the median concentration was 10.1 (8.8-11.6) mg/L; the excess rate of the serum Vit.E of those who took MM supplementation was 0.3%, and the rates for the groups of FA only or no nutritional supplements used were both 0.1%. Compared with women without nutritional supplement or the women taking FA, the women who took MM had higher serum Vit.E levels in the 1st trimester of gestational period (both P < 0.05). The women taking FA or MM initiated before the conception showed that the serum Vit.E concentration in the 1st trimester of gestational period was higher than that after the conception (P < 0.05), and the serum Vit.E concentration of women who took regularly was higher than that of irregular taking (P < 0.05); with taking compliance elevated, the serum Vit.E concentration of the two groups of women taking FA or MM increased (P < 0.05). The risk of serum Vit.E concentration≥11.2 mg/L among the women taking MM was higher than that of the women without nutritional supplements or taking FA only [odds ratio (OR)=1.36, 95% confidence interval (95%CI): 1.21-1.53; OR=1.39, 95%CI: 1.31-1.48)]; women who took FA or MM showed a lower risk for serum Vit.E concentration≥11.2 mg/L of taking it after the conception than before, the ORs (95%CI) were 0.86 (95%CI: 0.77-0.96) and 0.88 (95%CI: 0.81-0.95), respectively; the women taking the two supplements regularly had higher risk for serum Vit.E concentration≥11.2 mg/L than irregular taking, the ORs (95%CI) were 1.16 (95%CI: 1.05-1.29) and 1.13 (95%CI: 1.04-1.22) for FA and MM users, respectively; with the compliance increasing, the women taking MM had a higher risk of serum Vit.E levels≥11.2 mg/L in the 1st trimester [OR (95%CI) was 1.10 (1.07-1.14)], but for FA users, the OR (95%CI) was 1.04(1.00-1.08).
CONCLUSION: Vit.E nutritional status in women in early gestational period in Beijing was generally good, and the excess rate of serum Vit.E was higher in women who took MM during periconceptional period than those without nutritional supplement or taking FA only, suggesting that women need to consider their own Vit.E nutritional status to choose the type of nutritional supplements during periconceptional period, so as to avoid related health hazards.