Risk of cardiovascular disease and antioxidant response is associated with Hp phenotype in non-pregnant populations, but according to new research from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, New York, Hp phenotype is not associated with risk of preeclampsia. Measuring Hp phenotype does not help determine women who would benefit from antioxidant therapy to prevent preeclampsia.
Researchers collected data from 10,154 low-risk pregnancies. More than 2,300 women were included in the Hp phenotype prediction group and more than 2,100 women (703 active participants and 1,406 controls) participated in the antioxidant treatment group. The antioxidant group received vitamin C and E daily or a placebo.
Hp phenotype did not predict women at increased risk of preeclampsia in any ethnicity. Supplementation was not effective at reducing risk of pregnancy-associated hypertension or preeclampsia. Researchers did note that Hispanic women with Hp 2-2 showed increased risk of preeclampsia with supplementation.
Source: Weissgerber TL, Gandley RE, McGee PL, Spong CY, Myatt L, Leveno KJ, Thorp JM Jr, Mercer BM, Peaceman AM, Ramin SM, Carpenter MW, Samuels P, Sciscione A, Harper M, Tolosa JE, Saade G, Sorokin Y; Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units Network. Haptoglobin phenotype, preeclampsia risk and the efficacy of vitamin C and e supplementation to prevent preeclampsia in a racially diverse population. PLoS One. 2013;8(4):e60479. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0060479. Epub 2013 Apr 3.