Effect of lycopene on pre-eclampsia and intra-uterine growth retardation in primigravidas

Objectives: To observe the effect of the antioxidant lycopene on the occurrence of pre-eclampsia and intrauterine growth retardation in primigravida women. Methods: A total of 251 primigravida women were enrolled in this prospective, randomized controlled study in the second trimester. A total of 116 women were given oral lycopene (Group I) in a dose of 2 mg twice daily while 135 women were given a placebo (Group II) in the same dose until delivery. The criteria for recruitment included gestational age of 16-20 weeks, singleton pregnancy, absence of any medical complication and willingness on the part of the women to participate in the study. The women were followed up until delivery for development of pre-eclampsia, mode of delivery and fetal outcome. Results: The two groups were comparable in their maternal characteristics. Pre-eclampsia developed in significantly less women in the lycopene group than in the placebo group (8.6% vs. 17.7%, P=0.043 by chi-square test). Mean diastolic blood pressure was significantly higher in the placebo group (92.2+/-5.98 mmHg vs. 86.7+/-3.80 mmHg, P=0.012). Mean fetal weight was significantly higher in the lycopene group (2751.17+/-315.76 g vs. 2657+/-444.30 g, P=0.049). The incidence of intrauterine growth retardation was significantly lower in the lycopene group than in the placebo group (12% vs. 23.7%, P=0.033). Conclusions: The results of the present study suggest that the antioxidant lycopene reduces the development of pre-eclampsia and intrauterine growth retardation in primigravida women. (C) 2003 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Published by Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.