Vitamins May Reduce Miscarriage Risk

CHAPEL HILL, N.C.—Taking prenatal vitamin supplements early in pregnancy is associated with less risk of miscarriage, according to a study from the University of North Carolina. In this study (Am J Epidemiol. 2009 Jun 1;169(11):1312-8), information about vitamin use was obtained from a first-trimester interview from 4,752 U.S. women between 2000 and 2008. Approximately 95 percent of participants reported using vitamins during early pregnancy and a total of 524 of the women had miscarriages. The researchers found that the risk for miscarriage was 57 percent lower among women who took vitamins, compared to those who did not.

However, the authors suggest the results may be due to healthy behaviors and practices associated with vitamin supplement use during pregnancy.