Daily intake of 100 mg ascorbic acid as urinary tract infection prophylactic agent during pregnancy

• Published in: Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica Vol. 86; no. 7; pp. 783 - 787
• Main Authors: Ochoa-Brust, Gonzalo Javier, Fernández, Alma Rosa, Villanueva-Ruiz, Gerson Jesús, Velasco, Raymundo, Trujillo-Hernández, Benjamín, Vásquez, Clemente
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Informa UK Ltd 01.01.2007; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Ascorbic acid; Ascorbic Acid - administration & dosage; Female; Humans; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious - prevention & control; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious - urine; Single-Blind Method; urinary infections; Urinary Tract Infections - prevention & control; Urinary Tract Infections - urine; Urine - microbiology; Vitamins - administration & dosage
• ISSN: 0001-6349; 1600-0412
• DOI: 10.1080/00016340701273189

Objective. To evaluate the role a daily intake of 100 mg of ascorbic acid plays in urinary infection prophylaxis during pregnancy. Methods and materials. A single-blind clinical trial was carried out on pregnant women randomly assigned to the following treatment groups - Group A: oral treatment with ferrous sulphate (200 mg per day), folic acid (5 mg per day) and ascorbic acid (100 mg per day) for 3 months, and Group B: oral treatment with ferrous sulphate (200 mg per day) and folic acid (5 mg per day) for 3 months. All patients were clinically evaluated, and a urine culture was carried out each month for a period of 3 months. The 2 and odds ratio were used to compare effects with and without ascorbic acid, and statistical significance was considered at p<0.05. Results. Global frequency of urinary infections was 25%. The presence of urinary infections in Group A (12.7%) was significantly lower than in Group B (29.1%), (p=0.03, OR =0.35, CI 95% =0.13-0.91). Conclusions. Daily intake of 100 mg of ascorbic acid played an important role in the reduction of urinary infections, improving the health level of the gestating women. We recommend additional vitamin C intake for pregnant women in populations which have a high incidence of bacteriuria and urinary infections.