Maternal Nutrition, Oxidative Stress and Prenatal Devlopmental Outcomes

Abstract

AbstractAerobic organisms have adapted themselves to a coexistence with reactive oxygen species (ROS) by developing various and interdependent antioxidant systems that includes enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants. Dietary antioxidants also play important roles in protecting the developing organisms from ROS damage, and both dietary and enzymatic antioxidants are components of interrelated systems that interact with each other to control ROS production. Oxidative stress can arise from an imbalance between generation and elimination of ROS leading to excessive ROS levels that damage all biomolecules. Tightly controlled ROS generation is one of the central elements in the mechanisms of cellular signaling and maintenance of signal transduction pathways involved in cell function, growth, and differentiation. Oxidative stress is considered to be a promoter of several prenatal developmental disorders and complications, importantly defective embryogenesis, embryopathies, embryonic mortality, spontaneous abortion, recurrent pregnancy loss, fetal growth restriction, intrauterine fetal death, low birth weight, preeclampsia, and preterm delivery. Environmental chemicals in food, water, and beverage may contribute to such adverse prenatal developmental outcomes and increase the susceptibility of offspring to disease via impairment of the antioxidant defense systems and enhancement of ROS generation. This chapter deals with the state of knowledge on the association between ROS, oxidative stress, antioxidants, and prenatal developmental outcomes. The importance of maternal antioxidant-rich foods in eliciting favorable effects on women health and prenatal development outcomes is highlighted.KeywordsReactive oxygen speciesOxidative stressAntioxidant enzymes Dietary antioxidants Environmental chemicals Maternal foods Developmental defects Prenatal developmental outcomes Pregnancy disorders and complications