A longitudinal study of antioxidant status during uncomplicated and hypertensive pregnancies.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

To study the possible involvement of an (im)balance between oxidants and antioxidants in pre-eclampsia concentrations of intra- and extracellular blood antioxidants in women with uncomplicated and hypertensive pregnancies, they were studied preconceptionally and throughout pregnancy.

METHODS:

In uncomplicated pregnancies (n = 19) and hypertensive pregnancies (n = 6) concentrations of whole blood and plasma thiols, plasma vitamins/E and C, hemoglobin, and hematocrit were assessed at preconception, 6, 10, 20, and 37 weeks of gestational age, as well as six weeks postpartum. A repeated mixed model was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS:

Vitamin C and most whole blood and plasma thiol concentrations decreased during pregnancy, while vitamin E, whole blood oxidized cysteinyl-glycine and the ratio of free to oxidized homocysteine revealed a linear increase during pregnancy. Postpartum plasma cysteine and vitamin C levels and the ratio of free to oxidized levels of cysteine, cysteinyl-glycine, and glutathione were significantly (p <0.05) lower as compared to preconceptional levels, whereas whole blood oxidized cysteine, cysteinyl-glycine and glutathione levels, and whole blood and plasma homocysteine levels were significantly (p <0.05) higher six weeks after delivery. Plasma cysteine and homocysteine, and whole blood oxidized cysteine and homocysteine levels were significantly (p <0.05) higher at 37 weeks of gestational age in the hypertensive group compared to those in the uncomplicated group. There were no other differences between the hypertensive and uncomplicated groups.

CONCLUSION:

In normal pregnancy there seems a balance between antioxidant and oxidant concentrations despite modest oxidative stress. In mildly hypertensive pregnancies a marginal imbalance may occur.

• Authors: Eva Maria Roes, Jan C M Hendriks, Maarten T M Raijmakers, Regine P M Steegers-Theunissen, Pascal Groenen, Wilbert H M Peters, Eric A P Steegers
• Journal: Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica (Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand) Vol. 85 Issue 2 Pg. 148-55 ( 2006) ISSN: 0001-6349 [Print] United States
• PMID: 16532906 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antioxidants
• Hemoglobins
• Sulfhydryl Compounds
• Vitamin E
• Ascorbic Acid

Topics

• Adult
• Antioxidants (metabolism)
• Ascorbic Acid (blood)
• Female
• Hematocrit
• Hemoglobins (analysis)
• Humans
• Hypertension (blood)
• Longitudinal Studies
• Pregnancy
• Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular (blood)
• Statistics, Nonparametric
• Sulfhydryl Compounds (blood)
• Vitamin E (blood)