Antioxidant nutrients in pregnancy: a systematic review of the literature.

CONTENTS I N T R O D U C T I O N . 176 SCOPE O F REVIEW . 178 IDENTIFICATION OF PAPERS . . 178 REVIEW CRITERIA . 178 Z I N C A N D P R E G N A N C Y O U T C O M E . . 179 BACKGROUND . 179 RESULTS . 179 Birth weight and/or intra-uterine growth retardation . 179 Zinc supplement trials . . 179 Conclusions ,from the supplement trials . 180 Cohort studies . 181 Case-control studies . 182 Conclusions from the cohort and case-control studies . . 183 Preterm delivery and/or gestational age at delivery . 183 Conclusions . . 184 . 185 V I T A M I N C A N D P R E G N A N C Y O U T C O M E . 185 BACKGROUND . 185 RESULTS . 186 Mean birth weight, IUGR and low birth weight . 186 Preterm delivery and/or gestational age at delivery . 186 SUMMARY . 187 C A R O T E N O I D S A N D P R E G N A N C Y O U T C O M E . 187 BACKGROUND . 187 RESULTS . 187 SUMMARY . 188 V I T A M I N E A N D P R E G N A N C Y O U T C O M E . 188 BACKGROUND . 188 RESULTS . 188 SUMMARY . 189 I R O N A N D P R E G N A N C Y O U T C O M E . . 189 BACKGROUND . 189 SUMMARY OF THE EFFECT OF Z I N C O N PREGNANCY OUTCOME