vitamin E- is what I would use moderate dose 400 IUs, doesn't cross the placenta too much but seems to help protect against oxidative stresses at the placental bed level -- I have used this since the 80's - I avoid high doses for a couple reasons one- it can thin the blood the other- 1000-2000 IUs megadoses have been known to raise BP in the short term
vitamin c also an anti-oxidant and has been shown to help increase membrane strength
go over diet sheets and be sure she is eating her greens- veggies everyday
Biol Reprod. 2005 Nov;73(5):983-7. Epub 2005 Jul 13.
Vitamin E is essential for mouse placentation but not for embryonic development
Jishage K, Tachibe T, Ito T, Shibata N, Suzuki S, Mori T, Hani T, Arai H, Suzuki
Pharmacology and Pathology Research Center, Chugai Research Institute for
Medical Science, Inc., Gotemba, Shizuoka, 412-8513, Japan.
Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) was discovered 80 years ago to be an indispensable
nutrient for reproduction in the female. However, it has not been clarified when
or where vitamin E is required during pregnancy. We examined the role of
alpha-tocopherol in pregnancy using alpha-tocopherol transfer protein
(Ttpa)-deficient mice fed specific alpha-tocopherol diets that led to daily,
measurable change in plasma alpha-tocopherol levels from nearly normal to almost
undetectable levels. A dietary supplement of alpha-tocopherol to pregnant
Ttpa-/- (homozygous null) mice was shown to be essential for maintenance of
pregnancy from 6.5 to 13.5 days postcoitum but found not to be crucial before or
after this time span, which corresponds to initial development and maturation of
the placenta. In addition, exposure to a low alpha-tocopherol environment after
initiation of placental formation might result in necrosis of placental
syncytiotrophoblast cells, followed by necrosis of fetal blood vessel
endothelial cells. When Ttpa(-/-)-fertilized eggs were transferred into Ttpa+/+
(wild-type) recipients, plasma alpha-tocopherol concentrations in the Ttpa-/-
fetuses were below the detection limit but the fetuses grew normally. These
results indicate that alpha-tocopherol is indispensable for the proliferation
and/or function of the placenta but not necessary for development of the embryo
Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2000 Oct;183(4):979-85.
Pretreatment of human amnion-chorion with vitamins C and E prevents hypochlorous
Plessinger MA, Woods JR Jr, ****** RK.
Research Division, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of
Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, NY 14642-8668, USA.
OBJECTIVE: Preterm premature rupture of fetal membranes has been associated with
infection, cigarette smoking, and bleeding. Hypochlorous acid (a reactive oxygen
species) is central to the body's response to infection, yet it may damage
surrounding tissue while destroying pathogens. We examined in vitro the
tissue-damaging actions of hypochlorous acid on the amnion-chorion and the
protective role provided by pretreatment with vitamins C and E. STUDY DESIGN:
Amnion-chorion samples were obtained from 4 term pregnancies, cut into segments,
and divided into 6 exposure groups. Half were treated in advance with vitamins C
and E (Trolox C) and half were treated with buffer solution alone. After
rinsing, amnion-chorion samples were exposed to hypochlorous acid at 1 or 10
mmol/L for 4 hours. Histologic and immunocytochemical evaluations were conducted
with antibodies for collagen I and IV. RESULTS: Extensive damage to amniotic
epithelium and collagen I but not collagen IV resulted from hypochlorous acid
exposure and was dose related. Pretreatment with vitamins C and E prevented this
damage in all cases. CONCLUSION: Hypochlorous acid damages the amniotic
epithelium and collagen I in the amnion-chorion. The protection against
hypochlorous acid-induced damage provided by antioxidant therapy (vitamins C and
E) is of therapeutic significance.