Oxidative stress occurs as a result of an increase in oxidant generation, a decrease in antioxidant protection, or a failure to repair oxidative damage. Damage to cells results from reactive oxygen species-induced alteration of PUFA in membrane lipids, proteins and DNA. During pregnancy, oxidative stress increases, but there is also an increase of antioxidants and antioxidative enzymes(Reference Jenkins, Wilson and Roberts1, Reference Sugino, Takiguchi and Kashida2). Imbalances between oxidants and the antioxidative system may be associated with the onset of pre-eclampsia(Reference Mutlu-Turkoglu, Ademoglu and Ibrahimoglu3, Reference Perkins4) and with an increased risk of miscarriage(Reference Jenkins, Wilson and Roberts1). Furthermore, an inverse correlation between the maternal oxidative stress biomarkers malondialdehyde (for lipid peroxidation) and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (for DNA peroxidation) and neonatal birth weight has been demonstrated(Reference Kim, Hong and Lee5).
Increased availability of n-3 long-chain PUFA, for example, DHA, during the perinatal period has been reported to improve cognitive and visual development of the infant(Reference Koletzko, Agostoni and Carlson6–Reference Decsi and Koletzko8). The fetus accumulates up to 50 mg DHA per d in brain and adipose tissue during the last 3 months of gestation(Reference Lakin, Haggarty and Abramovich9). Fish oil supplementation in pregnancy was found to slightly prolong mean duration of gestation time and to markedly lower the risk for early preterm delivery(Reference Makrides, Duley and Olsen10, Reference Olsen, Osterdal and Salvig11). However, long-chain PUFA are susceptible to peroxidation(Reference Gitto, Reiter and Karbownik12) and additional oxidative stress might be caused by a high dietary intake of n-3 fatty acids without adequate antioxidative protection(Reference Herrera13).
In women of childbearing age adequate folate supply reduces the incidence of neural tube defects in infants and in the general population. Folate supplementation can reduce plasma concentrations of homocysteine(14). During pregnancy this might improve placental vascularisation and hence maternal–fetal substrate transfer. In line with this hypothesis Böhles et al. showed a negative correlation between maternal plasma homocysteine and DHA-percentage in the erythrocyte membrane phospholipids of their newborns(Reference Böhles, Arndt and Ohlenschlager15). Thus a combined supplementation with folate and n-3 long-chain PUFA seems reasonable. As several reactions of homocysteine metabolism (for example, formation of homocysteine) promote the formation of reactive oxygen species, folate supplementation might beneficially influence redox markers(Reference Hayden and Tyagi16).
The aim of the present study was to compare oxidative stress and antioxidant levels in pregnant women with and without an n-3 long-chain PUFA supplementation, considering a potentially confounding influence of folate supplementation.
Since redox status cannot be adequately assessed from a single analytical parameter, we analysed a set of biomarkers in the plasma of pregnant women participating in a randomised clinical trial on the effect of fish oil supplementation during the second half of pregnancy on pregnancy outcome(Reference Krauss-Etschmann, Shadid and Campoy17). Vitamin E is the major lipid-soluble, peroxidation chain-breaking antioxidant(Reference Brigelius-Flohe, Kelly and Salonen18). β-Carotene is an effective scavenger of peroxyl radicals(Reference Tsuchihashi, Kigoshi and Iwatsuki19) and it is a precursor of retinol, which is of essential importance for growth and development of cells and tissues. Uric acid is a powerful scavenger of singlet oxygen and other radicals(Reference Ames, Cathcart and Schwiers20). Thiol groups, mainly from glutathione, are susceptible to oxidative changes and play an important role in antioxidative reactions(Reference Iciek, Chwatko and Lorenc-Koci21). Because there are more antioxidants and interactions in the aqueous phase of plasma, we measured Trolox-equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) in plasma as an integrative parameter. In addition, the plasma concentration of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) was determined as a marker of lipid peroxidation.
Subjects and methods
Subjects and enrolment
The present study was conducted according to the guidelines laid down in the Declaration of Helsinki and all procedures involving human subjects were approved by the local Ethical Committees of the participating centres. From November 2001 to March 2003, pregnant women were recruited in Granada (Spain), Pécs (Hungary) and Munich (Germany). Women attending antenatal care clinics for ultrasound examinations between week 12 and week 20 of gestation were approached by study personnel, informed about the aims and nature of the study and invited to participate. Subject information includes an oral explanation by the physician and a written informed consent which was given to the subject. The criteria for inclusion were: age at study entry of 18–41 years, uncomplicated singleton pregnancy and weight at study entry of 50–95 kg. Women taking folate supplements after week 16 of gestation or fish oil supplements since they became pregnant were excluded from the study. Furthermore, for this analysis all women who smoked during pregnancy were excluded because smoking may enhance oxidative stress. Details of the study protocol and execution have been previously reported(Reference Krauss-Etschmann, Shadid and Campoy17).
Participants who agreed to participate were randomised without stratification into one of four dietary supplementation groups separately at each centre. To ensure that the different supplementation groups are nearly equally represented in each centre, randomisation was performed in blocks of twenty numbers. For this purpose twenty envelopes containing cards with one of the four numbers according to the supplementation groups were prepared and put into a closed box. By drawing envelopes, supplementation group numbers were assigned to the subject identity number. This procedure was performed identically for each study centre. After allocation to the dietary group, women were provided correspondingly with ninety sachets of 15 g, of which they had to consume one per d. At the second investigation date in week 30 ± 1 (w30) of gestation a further batch of ninety sachets was provided for the rest of pregnancy.
Thus, from week 22 of gestation onwards participants received milk-based supplements containing either modified fish oil providing 500 mg DHA and 150 mg EPA per d (fish oil group), or 400 μg 5-methyl-tetrahydro-folate (MTHF) per d (folate group), both in combination (fish oil+MTHF; fish oil+folate group) or placebo (control group). All supplements provided the estimated additional requirements for minerals and vitamins during the second half of pregnancy (Table 1).
Table 1 Nutrition, mineral and vitamin content of the supplements according to manufacturer's analysis (nutrient supply per sachet of 15 g)
5-MTHF, 5-methyl-tetrahydro-folate.
Non-fasting maternal venous blood samples for the laboratory analyses were collected at week 20 ± 1 (w20) of gestation, before supplementation started, at w30 and at the time of delivery using EDTA as anticoagulant. The plasma samples were stored at − 80°C until assayed. At the same time points a well-trained physician performed standardised interviews with the woman to assess data about socio-economic status, obstetrical history, intercurrent diseases and maternal smoking habits. Additionally, maternal height, weight and blood pressure were measured. At w20 and w30 participating women completed a FFQ to assess the DHA and folate intake with their habitual diet. Details of the nutritional evaluation have previously been reported(Reference Franke, Verwied-Jorky and Campoy22).
Analytical procedures
TBARS, TEAC, free thiol-groups, total protein and uric acid concentrations from all samples of each woman were analysed during one and the same day.
TBARS concentrations were determined by reaction with 2-thiobarbituric acid, based on the method of Knight et al. (Reference Knight, Smith and Kinder23). Ortho-phosphoric acid (500 μl; 0·44 m), 100 μl plasma and 200 μl 2-thiobarbituric acid solution (60 mg per 10 ml water) were pipetted into reaction vials. The mixture was heated in a water-bath for 1 h to 100°C. After cooling, a 100 μl sample was added to a 100 μl methanol–NaOH mixture (0·45 ml 1 m-NaOH per 4·55 ml methanol). After centrifugation a 50 μl portion of the supernatant fraction was used for HPLC with fluorescence detection (excitation, 550 nm; emission, 532 nm) for the measurement of TBARS(Reference Knight, Smith and Kinder23). External calibration with 1,1,3,3-tetraethoxypropane was used to quantify TBARS in the plasma samples. Intra- and inter-assay CV were 2·6 and 8·8 %, respectively.
Plasma α-tocopherol, retinol and β-carotene concentrations were analysed at the Department of Paediatrics, University of Frankfurt am Main (Germany) by an established HPLC method with UV detection after extraction of lipids into hexane(Reference Hess, Keller and Oberlin24). An external standard was applied for quantification. Plasma α-tocopherol is given as concentration and in relation to plasma lipids (α-tocopherol:cholesterol+TAG ratio).
Free thiol-groups were determined using Ellman's reagent (5,5′-dithio-bis 2-nitrobenzoic acid)(Reference Quinlan, Evans and Guttridge25). Micro-plate wells were filled with 165 μl water, 60 μl phosphate-saline buffer (0·1 m), 15 μl plasma or standard and 60 μl Ellman's reagent (10 mm in 0·15 m-NaCl and 0·1 m-Na3PO4). Blanks were measured with each plasma sample, containing distilled water instead of Ellman's reagent, and one blank containing pure water instead of plasma. The reaction was allowed to proceed during incubation at room temperature for at least 15 min on a shaker plate, before absorption was measured at 405 nm (photometer anthos ht III; Labtec Instruments, Wals, Austria). A five-point calibration curve was prepared daily using fresh cysteine solution. Intra- and inter-assay CV averaged 6·6 and 8·9 %, respectively.
The measurement of TEAC is based on the inhibition of the formation of 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS+) radical cations by antioxidants(Reference Motchnik, Frei and Ames26). PBS buffer (506 μl; 5 mm; pH 7·4), 36 μl myoglobine (70 μm), 300 μl 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (500 μm) and 8·4 μl plasma were combined. The mixture was incubated for 3 min at 30°C. The reaction was started by the addition of 150 μl H2O2 (450 μm), which was prepared fresh every day, and after 3 min absorbance at 734 nm was read. Trolox (6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid diluted in 2·5 mm-PBS) was used for calibration. The intra- and inter-assay CV averaged 1·1 and 4·7 %, respectively.
Cholesterol, TAG, total protein and uric acid were analysed with an automatic Hitachi analysis system (Fa. Boehringer, Mannheim, Germany), using enzymic assays for cholesterol, TAG, uric acid and a colour test for total protein, respectively.
Statistical analysis
Data were analysed with SPSS for Windows 12.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Normal distribution was examined using the Kolmogorow–Smirnov test (with Lilliefors correction). One-way ANOVA with post hoc Bonferroni correction was used to evaluate differences between supplementation groups for normally distributed data. In the case of non-normal distribution the Mann–Whitney U test was applied. Statistical significance was assumed at P < 0·05. Differences over time were evaluated using a general linear model. Correlations between parameters were estimated by computing Pearson's correlation coefficient in the case of normally distributed values and the Spearman ρ correlation coefficient in the case of other distributions, respectively.
Results
Study participants
From the 311 women enrolled into the study, forty-one women were excluded from the analyses because they did not complete the study. Reasons for dropping out were non-compliance (n 2), relocation (n 1), aversion to or bad taste of the supplement (n 9), and the loss of contact (n 2). For the remaining cases, a special reason for drop out could not be identified. From 270 study participants who completed the study(Reference Krauss-Etschmann, Shadid and Campoy17), samples were available for sixty-five women recruited in Munich, 113 in Granada and fifty-four in Pècs, respectively. Allocation of these women to the different intervention groups was: fish oil group (n 69), folate group (n 65), control group (n 72) and fish oil+folate group (n 64). Age and BMI were not significantly different between the four supplementation groups at study entry (Table 2). The four supplementation groups differed at none of the time points in BMI and weight gain during pregnancy. The whole study population showed an average weight gain of 5·8 (sem 3·8) kg from w20 to w30 and 4·2 (sem 3·5) kg from w30 until the end of pregnancy. Weight development was not different between the groups.
Table 2 Characteristics of the participants in the four supplementation groups*
(Median values and interquartile ranges (IQR))
w20, Week 20 ± 1 of gestation; w30, week 30 ± 1 of gestation.
* Group-specific statistical differences were assessed by ANOVA (with Bonferroni correction) and the Kruskal–Wallis test.
Effects of fish oil and folate supplementation on maternal plasma
Plasma cholesterol levels were significantly different over time of pregnancy in the whole study population (w20, 5·72 (sem 0·06); w30, 6·64 (sem 0·08); delivery, 6·24 (sem 0·09) mmol/l; P < 0·001). In all supplementation groups the highest plasma mean cholesterol value was found at w30 and the lowest at baseline, before supplementation started (Table 3). A significant difference (P = 0·003) at w30 was found between women supplemented with fish oil (fish oil and combined groups: 6·78 (sem 0·10) mmol/l) and non-supplemented women (folate and control groups: 6·18 (sem 0·17) mmol/l). There were no other significant differences between the supplementation groups. Plasma TAG values increased significantly with advancing pregnancy (w20, 1·72 (sem 0·04); w30, 2·26 (sem 0·05); delivery, 2·30 (sem 0·06) mmol/l; P < 0·01) without significant group differences at the different time points (P = 0·30; Table 3).
Table 3 Plasma levels of total protein, TAG and cholsterol at the studied time points according to supplementation group‡
(Median values and interquartile ranges (IQR))
w20, Week 20 ± 1 of gestation; w30, week 30 ± 1 of gestation.
* Median value was significantly different from that at w20 (P < 0·05).
† Median value was significantly different from that at w30 (P < 0·05).
‡ Statistical differences were calculated with ANOVA and the Mann–Whitney U test between the groups. Differences between time points were determined with Student's t test and the Wilcoxon test, respectively.
§ Differences between the supplementation groups were not found.
Supplementation did not affect plasma total protein levels (general linear model: P = 0·723). But all supplementation groups showed time-dependent changes. With exception of the combined group (P = 0·04), total plasma protein levels were similar at w20 and w30 and decreased towards delivery in all groups (P < 0·001; Table 3). Between all time points we found significant correlations for plasma total protein (w20–w30, r 0·54; w30–delivery, r 0·34; P < 0·001).
Plasma TBARS concentrations at w20 showed no significant differences between the supplementation groups. At w30 we found a significant difference between the DHA group and the folate group (P = 0·047; Fig. 1). In all four groups, plasma TBARS increased significantly from w30 until the end of pregnancy. Subjects with n-3 long-chain PUFA in their supplement, with or without folate, had higher plasma TBARS concentrations at w30 (P = 0·042) and at delivery than non-n-3 long-chain PUFA-supplemented groups (P = 0·030; Fig. 2). Plasma TBARS level showed no differences from w20 to w30 in groups with the fish oil supplement, but decreased significantly without the fish oil supplement (P = 0·001; Fig. 2). We found no significant effect of the study supplement on the plasma TBARS levels (general linear model: P = 0·305). Plasma TBARS correlations between the different time points in the whole study group (w20–w30, r 0·35, P < 0·001; w30–delivery, r 0·21, P = 0·03) and in women with fish oil supplementation (fish oil and combined groups) were statistically significant (w20–w30, r 0·22, P = 0·021; w30–delivery, r 0·28, P = 0·006). However, there was only a significant correlation in the subjects not supplemented with fish oil (folate and control groups) between w20 and w30 (w20–w30, r 0·37, P < 0·001; w30–delivery, r 0·05; NS). Only at w30 were there significant negative correlations between TBARS and the plasma α-tocopherol concentration (r − 0·21; P = 0·002) and the α-tocopherol:lipids ratio (r − 0·24; P < 0·001).
Fig. 1 Maternal thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) plasma levels in the different supplementation groups over time: week 20 ± 1 of gestation (w20; □); week 30 ± 1 of gestation (w30; 
); delivery (■). Values are medians, with interquartile ranges represented by vertical bars. * Median value was significantly different from that at w20 (P < 0·05). † Median value was significantly different from that at w30 (P < 0·05). ‡ Median value was significantly different from that of the fish oil group at w30 (P < 0·05).
Fig. 2 Plasma thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) (a) and Trolox-equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) (b) values in women with () and without (□) fish oil in their supplementation over time: week 20 ± 1 of gestation (w20); week 30 ± 1 of gestation (w30); delivery. Values are medians, with interquartile ranges represented by vertical bars. * Median value was significantly different from that of the women receiving the fish oil supplementation at the same time point (P = 0·042). † Median value was significantly different from that of the women receiving the fish oil supplementation at the same time point (P = 0·030). ‡ Median value was significantly different from that of the women not receiving the fish oil supplementation at w20 (P = 0·001).
The concentration of plasma α-tocopherol was related to total lipids (cholesterol+TAG) and rose between w20 and w30 significantly in all four supplementation groups (P < 0·001). From w30 until the end of pregnancy the plasma α-tocopherol concentrations showed no differences in all groups (Table 4). Supplementation had no effect on the plasma α-tocopherol:lipid ratio; during the whole intervention time no differences were found between the supplementation groups. Significant intra-individual correlations of the α-tocopherol:lipid ratio in the study population were found between w20 and w30 (r 0·27; P < 0·001) as well as w30 and delivery (r 0·27; P < 0·001). Correlations between these time points were also significant for α-tocopherol concentrations (w20–w30, r 0·45, P < 0·001; w30–delivery, r 0·40, P < 0·001).
Table 4 Plasma levels of redox parameters at the studied time points according to supplementation group‡
(Median values and interquartile ranges (IQR))
w20, Week 20 ± 1 of gestation; w30, week 30 ± 1 of gestation; TEAC, Trolox-equivalent antioxidant capacity.
* Median value was significantly different from that at w20 (P < 0·05).
† Median value was significantly different from that at w30 (P < 0·05).
‡ Statistical differences were calculated with ANOVA and the Mann–Whitney U test between the groups. Differences between time points were determined with a general linear model (Bonferroni correction) and the Wilcoxon test, respectively.
Plasma TEAC was not affected by supplementation at any time point (Table 4). There were no significant changes over time and no differences between fish oil-supplemented and non-fish oil-supplemented women (Fig. 2). Significant intra-individual correlations of TEAC at all time points were found in the total population (w20–w30, r 0·82, P < 0·001; w30–delivery, r 0·70, P < 0·001). Plasma TEAC levels correlated significantly with β-carotene levels at w20 (r 0·18; P = 0·006) and w30 (r 0·14; P = 0·034). Other correlations were obtained between TEAC and retinol (w20, r 0·32, P < 0·001; w30, r 0·28, P < 0·001; delivery, r 0·21, P = 0·002), TEAC and α-tocopherol (w30, r 0·29, P < 0·001; delivery, r 0·45; P < 0·001) as well as between TEAC and total protein (w20, r 0·17, P = 0·009; delivery, r 0·36; P < 0·001). No correlations were found between TEAC and uric acid and the free thiol groups, respectively.
Maternal retinol levels decreased in the whole study population with increasing duration of pregnancy (P < 0·001; w20, 2·74 (sem 0·08) μmol/l; w30, 2·18 (sem 0·07) μmol/l; delivery, 1·99 (sem 0·07) μmol/l). Significant changes between w20 and w30 were found in all four groups (Table 4) and a significant change between w30 and delivery was found in the fish oil group (P = 0·008). Splitting women into subjects with (fish oil and combined groups) and without fish oil supplementation (folate+control groups) resulted in significant differences between w20 and w30 in both groups (with fish oil: P = 0·002, w20, 2·70 (sem 0·11) μmol/l; w30, 2·2 (sem 0·10) μmol/l; without fish oil: P < 0·001, w20, 2·72 (sem 0·11) μmol/l; w30, 1·99 (sem 0·09) μmol/l) and between w30 and delivery only in fish oil-supplemented women (P = 0·002; delivery, 1·86 (sem 0·12) μmol/l). Between supplementation groups we found no significant differences at any of the time points. Intra-individual correlations of the plasma retinol levels were significant between all time points (w20–w30, r 0·40, P < 0·001; w30–delivery, r 0·23; P < 0·001).
The plasma β-carotene levels showed different developments in women with and without fish oil supplementation. Both the folate and control groups showed a significant decrease between w20 and w30 (P = 0·014; P = 0·002), as well as all subjects without fish oil supplementation taken together (control and folate groups: w20, 0·52 (sem 0·04) μmol/l; w30, 0·41 (sem 0·04) μmol/l; P < 0·001). In all groups, the lowest plasma β-carotene concentration was found at the end of pregnancy. There were no significant differences between the four supplementation groups at any of the time points. Comparing women with fish oil (fish oil and combined groups) and those without fish oil supplementation (control and folate groups), we found a significant difference at w30 (P = 0·03) and delivery (P = 0·04). In both cases, women with fish oil supplementation had higher β-carotene concentrations (with fish oil: w30, 0·51 (sem 0·04) μmol/l; delivery, 0·42 (sem 0·03) μmol/l; without fish oil: w30, 0·42 (sem 0·04) μmol/l; delivery, 0·38 (sem 0·04) μmol/l). Correlations between the time points were significant (w20–w30, r 0·60; w30–delivery, r 0·75; P < 0·001) in the whole study population.
Plasma free thiol groups decreased until the end of pregnancy, but no differences were found between the four supplementation groups, as well as between fish oil-supplemented (fish oil and combined groups) and non-fish oil-supplemented (control and folate groups) subjects. A significant decrease between w30 and delivery was found in all four groups (Table 4). Correlations were significant between all time points (w20–w30, r 0·49; w30–delivery, r 0·45; each P < 0·001). At all time points we found significant correlations between the concentrations of total protein and the free thiol groups (w20, r 0·22, P = 0·001; w30, r 0·34; delivery, r 0·44, P < 0·001). The ratio of thiol groups per total protein did not differ between the supplementation groups.
In the whole study population, plasma uric acid level showed a slight increase between w20 and w30 (510 (sem 14) to 551 (sem 8) μmol/l; P < 0·001) and a stronger increase towards the end of pregnancy (739 (sem 13) μmol/l; P < 0·001). There was no significant effect of the supplementation on maternal uric acid level during intervention time (general linear model: P = 0·60). Except the folate group (P = 0·07), all groups showed a significant increase between w20 and w30 (P ≤ 0·001). Between w30 and delivery, all four groups showed a significant increase (P < 0·001). Significant correlations with P < 0·001 were found between w20 and w30 (r 0·65) as well as w30 and delivery (r 0·60) in the total study population.
Dietary intake of DHA
The analysis of the FFQ showed no significantly different DHA intake with habitual diet between the supplementation groups at w20 and w30. DHA intake in the study population was 30·1 mg per 1000 kJ (126 mg per 1000 kcal) at w20 and 29·4 mg per 1000 kJ (123 mg per 1000 kcal) at w30 on average(Reference Franke, Verwied-Jorky and Campoy22). We found no significant difference regarding the dietary intakes of folate between the four supplementation groups at w20 nor at w30. The study population showed a folate intake of about 27·7 μg/1000 kJ (116 μg/1000 kcal) at both time points with no significant difference between the groups and change with time.
Discussion
The present study shows a significant increase of plasma TBARS during the second half of pregnancy, independently from supplement allocation. An increase of lipid peroxidation was previously reported with progression of pregnancy, and thus with increasing age of the placenta(Reference Uotila, Tuimala and Aarnio27). While measures of peroxidation are generally higher in pregnant women than in non-pregnant controls, results on the evolution of plasma markers of peroxidation during pregnancy are quite variable(Reference Little and Gladen28). The significant increase of TBARS in our subjects is in line with the reported increase of lipid hydroperoxides between first and third trimester(Reference Toescu, Nuttall and Martin29), while a significant increase of plasma malondialdehyde concentration with the course of pregnancy was not observed by Patrick et al. in American women(Reference Patrick, Hubel and Roberts30). A reason for these divergent results might be that the TBARS test is non-specific for malondialdehyde(Reference Janero31). The mid-pregnancy malondialdehyde concentrations were clearly lower in the women studied by Patrick et al. (Reference Patrick, Hubel and Roberts30) (0·38 μmol/l in white and 0·50 μmol/l in black women) than the TBARS concentrations in the European women in the present study (0·74 μmol/l). Thus antioxidative capacity might have been exhausted earlier in our women. An association between lipid peroxidation products and lipid-soluble antioxidants is reflected in the negative correlations between TBARS and α-tocopherol in the whole study population at w30 (r − 0·21; P = 0·002). Fish oil supplementation induced both significantly higher plasma phospholipid DHA and EPA percentages(Reference Krauss-Etschmann, Shadid and Campoy17) at w30 and at delivery, while plasma TBARS concentrations were only at w30 significantly increased in the fish oil-supplemented group. This might indicate that the antioxidant system was brought to its limits around w30, but adapted later on or at delivery other factors are the determinants of redox status.
Plasma concentrations of α-tocopherol and the α-tocopherol:lipid ratio increased after w20, which reflects the additional intake of α-tocopherol with the study supplements. While a negative correlation between percentage of total PUFA and vitamin E has been reported in pregnant Italian women(Reference Herrera, Ortega and Alvino32), we did not find lower α-tocopherol concentrations in the fish oil-supplemented women. The reason seems to be the different amounts of vitamin E intake. None of the studied Italian women took nutritional supplements containing lipid-soluble vitamins(Reference Herrera, Ortega and Alvino32). The additional vitamin E intake with the Nutraceuticals for a Healthier Life (NUHEAL) study supplement might have provided α-tocopherol in an amount much higher than the minimal requirement for radical scavenging.
Plasma protection against free radical injury is offered by a wide range of antioxidants with synergistic action. Measurement of all individual antioxidants is not possible; thus we applied the integrative TEAC assay to estimate plasma antioxidative capacity. We did not find significantly lower plasma TEAC in fish oil-supplemented compared with non-supplemented women. In both groups TEAC tended to decrease towards the end of the intervention period. Comparing measured TEAC concentration with antioxidants measured in plasma, we found significant correlations to retinol, β-carotene and total protein levels, but no correlation to uric acid. TEAC was not affected by the progression of pregnancy and the significant changes in uric acid concentration over time were not reflected. Plasma albumin and uric acid are the major determinants of TEAC, but correlations to specific antioxidant concentrations are difficult to establish and depend on the applied radical-generating substrate and reaction time(Reference Cao and Prior33–Reference Schofield and Braganza35).
The decrease of plasma retinol concentration during pregnancy is in agreement with the results of Bruinse et al. (Reference Bruinse and van den Berg36) and Cikot et al. (Reference Cikot, Steegers-Theunissen and Thomas37). Possible reasons for a decrease could be the increasing plasma volume during pregnancy, a decrease in retinol-binding proteins or increased tissue retention. The decreased plasma retinol concentration during advanced pregnancy might also reflect enhanced fetal utilisation(Reference Herrera, Ortega and Alvino32, Reference Clagett-Dame and DeLuca38).
Significant differences in plasma β-carotene concentrations were found between fish oil-supplemented and non-supplemented subjects. In contrast to a short-term n-3 long-chain PUFA supplementation study(Reference Foulon, Richard and Payen39), we found higher values of plasma β-carotene at w30 and at the time of delivery in fish oil-supplemented women. All groups showed the lowest concentrations at the time of delivery, which might be an indication for a higher level of oxidative stress towards the end of gestation as well as the increased maternal blood volume. Several other factors known to influence β-carotene concentration, such as age, sex, smoking status and residence location, could be excluded as they were not different between the groups (P>0·05)(Reference Faure, Preziosi and Roussel40). Thus, the reason for the higher β-carotene concentrations in the fish oil-supplemented women remains unclear.
Uric acid plasma concentration increased significantly throughout pregnancy, irrespective of type of supplementation. A similar increase has been reported in other studies and has been interpreted as reflecting a xanthine–xanthine oxidase pathway stimulation(Reference Chappell, Seed and Kelly41, Reference Powers, Bodnar and Ness42). Uric acid may act as an antioxidant, but there is also evidence that it has pro-oxidative effects(Reference Becker43–Reference Sanchez-Lozada, Nakagawa and Kang45). Thus, increased levels of uric acid indicate oxidative stress, but it is unclear whether it induces oxidative stress or reflects antioxidant activity. In pregnancy elevated uric acid levels have been associated with increased rates of complications such as pre-eclampsia(Reference Powers, Bodnar and Ness42). In non-smoking pregnant women, uric acid levels of 197 (sem 15) μmol/l (33·1 (sem 2·5) mg/l) in weeks 16–24 and 194 (sem 9) μmol/l (32·6 (sem 1·5) mg/l) in weeks 24–34 have been reported(Reference Lain, Markovic and Ness46), which is similar to our findings. In contrast, results in smoking pregnant women (202 μmol/l (33·9 mg/l); 214 μmol/l (35·9 mg/l))(Reference Lain, Markovic and Ness46) tended to be higher than the plasma uric acid in our n-3-supplemented women (w20, 179 μmol/l (30 mg/l); w30, 196 μmol/l (33 mg/l)). Thus, it appears that the increase with time found in the present study is not related to the n-3 supplementation, but rather with falling renal clearance towards the end of pregnancy(Reference Lain, Markovic and Ness46).
Plasma thiol groups showed a decrease in all subjects during the intervention time. The present results confirm the results of previews studies(Reference Wisdom, Wilson and Mckillop47, Reference Raijmakers, Roes and Steegers48). The decrease in thiol groups and in total protein levels during pregnancy may reflect the increasing maternal plasma volume and physiological functions of the thiol groups in fetal metabolism, but increases of oxidative stress with pregnancy duration has also been proposed as an explanation(Reference Wisdom, Wilson and Mckillop47, Reference Myatt and Cui49, Reference Walsh50). Our data show a similar decrease in all supplementation groups, which was on average 20 % from baseline to delivery. Thus, if an n-3 long-chain PUFA supplementation induced oxidative stress, it was too small to influence plasma thiol concentration.
We conclude that the recommended supply of n-3 long-chain PUFA in pregnancy(Reference Koletzko, Cetin and Brenna51, Reference Simopoulos, Leaf and Salem52), here providing a daily supply of 500 mg DHA and 150 g EPA, did not affect water-soluble and lipid-soluble antioxidants. Higher TBARS concentrations in the fish oil group were not associated with a depletion of plasma antioxidants, and the group difference was clearly smaller than the increase with pregnancy duration. Independent of the inclusion of folate the applied dosage of n-3 long-chain PUFA supplementation seems to be without adverse effects on antioxidative defence in pregnant women.
Acknowledgements
The authors thank all participating women for their collaboration and all colleagues in the study centres for their support. The present study was financially supported by the Commission of the European Communities within the 5th Framework Programme NUHEAL, CLK1-CT-1999-00888, within the 6th Framework Programmes EARNEST, Food-CT-2005-007036, and EURRECA, FP6-036196-2, and within the 7th Framework Programme NUTRIMENTHE, FP7-212652. This paper does not necessarily reflect the views of the Commission and in no way anticipates the future policy in this area. B. K. is the recipient of a Freedom to Discover Award of the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation, New York, NY, USA.
All authors have made substantive contributions to the study, and endorse the data and conclusions. The authors contributed as follows: B. K., C. C. and T. D. designed and supervised the study. C. F., K. M., H. D., M. C. and J. A. M.-F. participated in data collection and/or laboratory analyses. C. F. did the statistical analysis and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. B. K., H. D., C. C. and T. D. revised the manuscript and contributed to the final version of the manuscript.
All authors certify that there is no actual or potential conflict of interest in relation to this article.
