Does Vitamin C Cause a Miscarriage?

Published on Dec 14, 2020 by

Does Vitamin C Cause a Miscarriage?

Supplementing the multivitamin during pregnancy may be helpful in preventing miscarriage, but vitamin C, in particular, does not appear to have any effect on pregnancy outcome in women. Indeed, supplementation of vitamin C may be helpful in improving the quality of sperm of men whose spouses have repeated miscarriages. You should always consult your doctor before taking vitamin C or any dietary supplement, particularly if you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant.

Why can ascorbic acid cause miscarriage?

It is impossible to answer this question precisely, since there were practically no clinical trials, apart from one old Soviet study in the 60s of the last century. You can find various unsupported theories.

According to one of them, vitamin C interferes with the production of progesterone, which is necessary for the implantation of the embryo into the uterine wall. Other sources say it boosts estrogen production. There is no scientific evidence for this.

Vitamin C and miscarriage

Vitamin supplementation does not reduce the rate of miscarriage in women, according to research published in 2011 in the Cochrane Systemic Online Reviews Database. The authors looked at 28 clinical studies to evaluate the effects of different types of vitamins on pregnancy outcomes.

They looked at more than 60,000 cases and found vitamin supplementation of any type, including vitamin C, had no significant effect on fetal loss. The authors, however, conclude that women taking vitamin supplements were more likely to have multiple births.

Read also: The Best and Healthy Tips To Avoid Being Underweight

Preeclampsia

A 2005 study conducted at the University of Adelaide in Australia investigated the effects of vitamin C on preeclampsia, a condition resulting from hypertension in the fetus and mother that was associated with an increase in the rate of miscarriage.

The authors reviewed five clinical studies, involving 76 women, and found no association between the frequency of preeclampsia or stillbirth and vitamin C intake. The authors also found that vitamin C was associated with preterm births, but they cautioned. in the Cochrane Database, the study size was too limited to draw defensible conclusions.

Miscarriage and sperm quality

The quality of a man’s sperm was liked with the incidence of miscarriages in their spouses before 12 weeks of gestation. An article in the August 2009 issue of the journal “Fertility and Infertility” explored the effects of vitamin C supplementation in men on their spouses’ pregnancy outcomes.

The researchers recruited 17 men with a condition that causes their DNA to fragment into sperm, and whose spouse had miscarried two or more times. The men were given the supplements of beta-carotene, vitamins C and E, and zinc for three months. The study found that spouses of 53 percent of the men got pregnant and had a positive outcome.

Vitamin C, abortion, and alcohol

Vitamin C supplementation can have beneficial effects in preventing harm to an embryo due to alcohol ingestion. Research published in 2009 in the journal Reproductive Toxicology evaluated the effects of vitamin C on chicken cardiomyocytes, or precursor cells of the heart, previously exposed to ethyl alcohol.

The researchers found that the cells exposed to alcohol then supplemented with vitamin C had the same viability as control cells, which were not treated with alcohol.

Read also: Tips To Make Your Stomach Healthy And Happy

Side effects of high-dose ascorbic acid

Vitamin C is water-soluble, and the excess is excreted by the kidneys in the urine. Such high doses for the purpose of abortion can cause many side effects in the body:

  • diarrhea;
  • nausea;
  • vomiting;
  • heartburn;
  • abdominal cramps;
  • pain in the side or lower back;
  • insomnia;
  • headache;
  • Stones in the kidneys.

Contraindications for this method

Strictly avoid using high doses of ascorbic acid if you have any of the following underlying medical conditions or conditions:

  • Grins in the urine.
  • Disorders of iron metabolism, leading to its excess in the body
  • Sickle cell anemia.
  • Insufficiency of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and hemolytic non-spherocytic anemia.
  • Allergy to ascorbic acid
  • Kidney problems, oxalate nephropathy (stones), increased risk of kidney disease, kidney failure, and other diseases.
  • Taking anticoagulants such as warfarin to prevent blood clotting

Other methods of abortion

The method of abortion will depend on the length of the pregnancy. Usually, after 9 weeks of pregnancy, surgical abortion is the only option available. Before that, you can take medication (using special pills).

Also, you should be aware that the risk of abortion in the second trimester is higher than in the first, in addition, it is prohibited for such periods in most countries without special reason. The shorter the gestation period, the more options, and the lower the risks.

Read also: Tips To Keep Kidneys Healthy And Functional For Long

Folk remedies for abortion

Below are several home abortion methods that can be found on the Internet, in addition to ascorbic acid. But if you are facing an unwanted pregnancy, see your doctor as soon as possible, rather than practice them. These folk methods were especially popular at the end of the last century. Special drugs for safe medical abortion are available today.

Similar to ascorbic acid for abortion, there is no scientific research to support the following home remedies. Although there are several reviews of the serious consequences of such methods. Therefore, it is better not to risk it but see a doctor.

Angelica Chinese (Dong Kwai)

The root of this plant is often used in herbal medicine. It is also used by obstetricians to relieve menstrual cramps, menopause symptoms, and PMS.

Dong Quai stimulates the uterus and helps to strengthen and coordinate contractions, which is why many obstetricians use it during labor as well. However, in the early stages of pregnancy, this can lead to the uterus crowding out the products of conception.

Marsh mint (Menthe pulegium)

It contains an abortive substance called a polygon. This substance causes moderate contractions, causing miscarriage. Some women take peppermint oil to have an abortion. It is usually sold as an insect repellent or scent but can be used as a tea. There are reported cases of poisoning and even one fatal in case of an overdose of this oil.

Parsley

For the purpose of abortion, it is used as a tea, consumed several times a day, or even inserted directly into the vagina, like a tampon or under a douche. Parsley is often taken in combination with other herbs such as winter rue and fennel.

Although there are not enough scientific reports on this topic, serious cases of poisoning are known, leading to disruption of the work of many organs and even death.

Cinnamon

Ceylon cinnamon and Chinese cinnamon (cassia) are sometimes used as abortions Therefore, BJOG magazine included them in a large list of plant substances that are not recommended for pregnancy. This is especially true of the cossie.

For abortion purposes, raw (not in a dish) brown powder is taken on an empty stomach. But eating more than 1 to 2 teaspoons of cassia can be harmful as it contains coumarone.  Ceylon cinnamon is practically free of it. Learn more about whether cinnamon can cause miscarriage during pregnancy.

A pineapple

There is a myth that in the first trimester of pregnancy, pineapple or juice from it can cause miscarriage, and therefore be used for artificial termination of pregnancy. This misconception is based on the presence of bromelain in pineapples. The logic behind this myth is that this plant enzyme breaks down proteins, and since the embryo is made up of proteins, consumption of bromelain can cause bleeding and miscarriage.

There is virtually no evidence to support this claim. In addition, mothers will have to eat at least 7 pineapples a day for this to somehow affect pregnancy. Eating a normal number of pineapples (about 2 per week) is completely safe.

What does this mean?

Taking vitamin C supplements during pregnancy does not help prevent pregnancy problems including stillbirth, newborn death, premature delivery, pre-eclampsia, or low birth weight newborns.

About the Author: Hamza Sarfraz

Hamza Sarfraz is a seasoned SEO and digital marketing expert based in Pakistan with 4 years of experience. Specializing in technology and health, he has a knack for simplifying complex topics into compelling narratives. Leveraging deep SEO insights, Hamza consistently delivers high-quality content that resonates with audiences and adds value to businesses. Discover more about him on his LinkedIn profile.

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