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

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.

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.

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.

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.