Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-s2hrs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-08T20:28:48.016Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Maternal and neonatal plasma antioxidant levels in normal pregnancy, and the relationship with fatty acid unsaturation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 August 2007

Gerard S. Oostenbrug
Affiliation:
Department of Human Biology, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 50, 6229 ER, Maastricht, The Netherlands
Ronald P. Mensink*
Affiliation:
Department of Human Biology, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 50, 6229 ER, Maastricht, The Netherlands
Monique D. M. Al
Affiliation:
Department of Human Biology, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 50, 6229 ER, Maastricht, The Netherlands
Adriana C. van Houwelingen
Affiliation:
Department of Human Biology, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 50, 6229 ER, Maastricht, The Netherlands
Gerard Hornstra
Affiliation:
Department of Human Biology, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 50, 6229 ER, Maastricht, The Netherlands
*
Corresponding author: Dr R. P. Mensink, fax +31 433 670 976, email [email protected]
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

During pregnancy, maternal plasma concentrations of the peroxidation-susceptible polyunsaturated fatty acids (polyenes) increase. In addition, the proportion of polyenes is higher in neonatal plasma than in maternal plasma. To study whether these increased amounts of polyenes affect antioxidant levels, we measured lipid-soluble antioxidants in maternal and neonatal plasmas obtained during thirty-five normal pregnancies. These values were then related to the degree of phospholipid-fatty acid unsaturation. Maternal plasma levels of tocopherols and lutein increased during pregnancy, as assessed at 14, 22, and 32 weeks of gestation. However, β-carotene levels decreased, and levels of other carotenoids remained unchanged. Retinol levels were only decreased at 32 weeks of gestation. The value for α-tocopherol: phospholipid-polyene unsaturation index (UI) also increased during pregnancy, despite the observed increase in UI. Corresponding ratios for several carotenoids and retinol, however, decreased during pregnancy. After delivery, maternal plasma levels of δ-tocopherol and β + γ-tocopherol, as well as β + γ-tocopherol: UI values, were lower than values at 32 weeks of gestation. Umbilical-cord plasma antioxidant levels and antioxidant: UI values, except retinol: UI, were significantly lower than maternal values. Significant and consistent cord ν. maternal correlations were observed for plasma levels of β + γ-tocopherol, lutein and β-carotene, but not for δ-tocopherol, α-tocopherol, lycopene, α-carotene, and retinol. In conclusion, although during pregnancy maternal plasma tocopherol levels increased concurrently with, or more than, fatty acid unsaturation in plasma phospholipids, the decrease in carotenoid: UI values during gestation, the decrease in maternal plasma levels of δ-tocopherol and β + γ-tocopherol after delivery, and the low neonatal antioxidant levels merit further investigation.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 1998

References

Al, MDM, Badart-Smook, A, van Houwelingen, AC, Hasaart, THM & Hornstra, G (1996) Fat intake of women during normal pregnancy: relationship with maternal and neonatal essential fatty acid status. Journal of the American College of Nutrition 15, 4955.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Al, MDM, van Houwelingen, AC, Kester, ADM, Hasaart, THM, de Jong, AEP & Hornstra, G (1995) Maternal essential fatty acid patterns during normal pregnancy and their relationship to the neonatal essential fatty acid status. British Journal of Nutrition 74, 5568.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Davidge, ST, Hubel, CA, Brayden, RD, Capeless, EC & McLaughlin, MK (1992) Sera antioxidant activity in uncomplicated and preeclamptic pregnancies. Obstetrics and Gynecology 79, 897901.Google ScholarPubMed
Deligné, P, Bonnardot, JP, Couderc, R, Kerisit, S, Périer, JF & Laruelle, P (1990) Lipid peroxidation levels and antioxidant activities of blood plasma in parturients and new-born infants immediately after normal delivery. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology 264, 573576.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Frei, B, Stacker, R & Ames, BN (1992) Small molecule antioxidant defences in human extracellular fluids. In Molecular Biology of Free Radical Scavenging Systems, pp. 2345 [Scandalios, JG, editor]. New York: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press.Google Scholar
Guajardo, L, Beharry, KDA, Modanlou, HD & Aranda, JV (1995) Ascorbic acid concentrations in umbilical cord veins and arteries of preterm and term newborns. Biology of the Neonate 68, 19.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hågå, P, Ek, J & Kran, S (1982) Plasma tocopherol levels and vitamin E/beta-lipoprotein relationships during pregnancy and in cord blood. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 36, 12001204.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hess, D, Keller, HE, Oberlin, B, Bonfanti, R & Schüep, W (1991) Simultaneous determination of retinol, tocopherols, carotenes and lycopene in plasma by means of high-performance liquid chromatography on reversed phase. International Journal of Vitamin and Nutrition Research 61, 232238.Google ScholarPubMed
Holman, RT (1986) Control of polyunsaturated acids in tissue lipids. Journal of the American College of Nutrition 5, 183211.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hussein, L, El-Shawarby, O, Elnaggar, B & Abdelmegid, A (1988) Serum vitamin A and carotene concentrations among Egyptian fullterm neonates in relation to maternal status. International Journal of Vitamin and Nutrition Research 58, 139145.Google ScholarPubMed
Iioka, H, Akada, S, Hisanaga, H, Shimamoto, T, Yamada, Y, Moriyama, IS & Ichijo, M (1991) Changes in plasma levels of lipid peroxide and vitamin E during pregnancy. Asia-Oceania Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 17, 357361.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jagadeesan, V & Prema, K (1980 a) Plasma tocopherol and lipid levels in pregnancy and oral contraceptive users. British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 87, 903907.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jagadeesan, V & Prema, K (1980 b) Plasma tocopherol and lipid levels in mother and umbilical cord; influence on birth weight. British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 87, 908910.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lindeman, JHN, van Zoeren-Grobben, D, Schrijver, J, Speek, AJ, Poorthuis, BJHM & Berger, HM (1989) The total free radical trapping ability of cord blood plasma in preterm and term babies. Pediatric Research 26, 2024.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lund, CJ & Donovan, JC (1967) Blood volume during pregnancy. Significance of plasma and red cell volumes. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 98, 394403.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Martinez, FE, Goncalves, AL, Jorge, SM & Desai, ID (1981) Brief clinical and laboratory observations. Vitamin E in placental blood and its interrelationship to maternal and newborn levels of vitamin E. Journal of Pediatrics 99, 298300.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mino, M & Nagamatu, M (1986) An evaluation of nutritional status of vitamin E in pregnant women with respect to red blood cell tocopherol level. International Journal of Vitamin and Nutrition Research 56, 149153.Google ScholarPubMed
Morse, EH, Clarke, RP, Keyser, DE, Merrow, SB & Bee, DE (1975) Comparison of the nutritional status of pregnant adolescents with adult pregnant women. I. Biochemical findings. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 28, 10001013.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Niki, E (1987) Antioxidants in relation to lipid peroxidation. Chemistry and Physics of Lipids 44, 227253.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Oostenbrug, GS (1996) Lipid peroxidation and antioxidants in humans. Effects of oxidative stress and dietary n-3 fatty acids. PhD Thesis, Maastricht University, The Netherlands.Google Scholar
Oostenbrug, GS, Mensink, RP, Bär, FWHM & Hornstra, G (1997) Lipid peroxidation-associated oxidative stress during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty in humans. Free Radical Biology and Medicine 22, 129136.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Panth, M, Shatrugna, V, Yasodhara, P & Sivakumar, B (1990) Effect of vitamin A supplementation on haemoglobin and vitamin A levels during pregnancy. British Journal of Nutrition 64, 351358.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rondo, PHC, Abbott, R, Rodrigues, LC & Tomkins, AM (1995) Vitamin A, folate, and iron concentrations in cord and maternal blood of intra-uterine growth retarded and appropriate birth weight babies. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 49, 391399.Google ScholarPubMed
Shah, RS & Rajalakshmi, R (1984) Vitamin A status of the newborn in relation to gestational age, body weight, and maternal nutritional status. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 40, 794800.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Shah, RS, Rajalakshmi, R, Bhatt, RV, Hazra, MN, Patel, BC, Swamy, NB & Patel, TV (1987) Vitamin E status of the newborn in relation to gestational age, birth weight and maternal vitamin E status. British Journal of Nutrition 58, 191198.Google ScholarPubMed
Statistical Analysis Systems (19891992) SAS 6.09 User's Guide, Statistics. Cary, NC: SAS Institute Inc.Google Scholar
Sullivan, JL & Newton, RB (1988) Serum antioxidant activity in neonates. Archives of Disease in Childhood 63, 748757.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Takehara, Y, Yoshioka, T & Sasaki, J (1990) Changes in the levels of lipoperoxide and antioxidant factors in human placenta during gestation. Acta Medica Okayama 44, 103111.Google ScholarPubMed
Uotila, J, Tuimala, R, Aarnio, T, Pyykkö, K & Ahotupa, M (1991) Lipid peroxidation products, selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase and vitamin E in normal pregnancy. European Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Biology 42, 95100.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Uotila, J, Tuimala, R, Pyykkö, K & Ahotupa, M (1993) Pregnancy-induced hypertension is associated with changes in maternal and umbilical blood antioxidants. Gynecologic and Obstetric Investigation 36, 153157.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
van der Schouw, YT, Al, MDM, Hornstra, G, Bulstra-Ramakers, MTEW & Huisjes, HJ (1991) Fatty acid composition of serum lipids of mothers and their babies after normal and hypertensive pregnancies. Prostaglandins Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids 44, 247252.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wang, YP, Walsh, SW, Guo, J & Zhang, J (1991) Maternal levels of prostacyclin, thromboxane, vitamin E, and lipid peroxides throughout normal pregnancy. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 165, 16901694.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed