Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and compare the levels of α-tocopherol in colostrum and in the serum of healthy and diabetic mothers.METHODS: This cross-sectional study enrolled 51 volunteer mothers, 20 with the diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus and 31 without associated diseases. Serum and colostrum samples were collected in fasting in the immediate postpartum period and α-tocopherol was analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). In order to define the nutritional status of vitamin E, the cutoff point for the serum (697.7µg/dL) was adopted. Student's t-test for independent variables compared the average concentrations of α-tocopherol in the serum and in the colostrum between control and gestational diabetes mellitus groups. Pearson's correlation was used to assess the relationship between the concentration of α-tocopherol in serum and colostrum for both groups. Differences were considered significant when p<0.05.RESULTS: The α-tocopherol concentration in colostrum was 1,483.1±533.8µg/dL for Control Group and 1,368.8±681.8µg/dL for diabetic women, without differences between groups (p=0.50). However, α-tocopherol concentration in the serum was 1,059.5±372.7µg/dL in the Control Group and 1,391.4±531.5µg/dL in the diabetic one (p<0.01). No correlation was found between the concentration of α-tocopherol in the serum and in the colostrum for control and diabetic groups. CONCLUSIONS: The groups had adequate nutritional status of vitamin E. Gestational diabetes was not associated with changes in α-tocopherol concentration in colostrum.
Highlights
During pregnancy, there is usually an accumulation of energy reserves, characterized by common maternal physiological responses to pregnancy, such as increased visceral fat, insulin resistance, and increased circulating lipids[1]
Insulin resistance promotes the increase in glucose concentration, characterizing a scenario of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM)
Parturients who participated in this study were distributed for the analysis of results in two groups: Control (n=31) and gestational diabetes mellitus group (n=20)
Summary
There is usually an accumulation of energy reserves, characterized by common maternal physiological responses to pregnancy, such as increased visceral fat, insulin resistance, and increased circulating lipids[1]. Insulin resistance promotes the increase in glucose concentration, characterizing a scenario of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Studies have shown the occurrence of increased production of oxygen free radicals, supporting the hypothesis that there is increased oxidative stress in patients with gestational diabetes[2]. The natural antioxidants reduce the adverse effects of free radicals because they have the ability to capture and neutralize reactive oxygen species (ROE), preventing lipid peroxidation. This neutralization is essential, especially in situations of increased oxidative stress, as in GDM[3]. Vitamin E stands out, essential micronutrient that corresponds to a group of eight fat soluble compounds classified as α-, β-, γ-, and δ-tocopherol or tocotrienol, being α-tocopherol the most active biologically[4]
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