Maternal Oxidant and Antioxidant Status in the Third Trimester of Gestation and its Relation to the Birthweight

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine if the behavior of redox status indicators and their relation to birthweight, previously reported, was dependent only on the period between 30 and 36 weeks gestation, or if it was a characteristic of the third trimester. The present study was done in pregnant women between 25 and 29 and between 30 and 36 weeks of gestation; in addition, a reference group with non-pregnant women was formed. Ferric reducing potential, uric acid, albumin, vitamins C, E, A, erythrocyte reduced glutathione concentrations, total extracellular superoxide dismutase and catalase activity were measured as antioxidant indicators, and serum malondialdehyde plus 4-hydroxynonenal concentration as a lipoperoxidation indicator. No significant differences between the values of the indicators of redox status between the two groups of pregnant women were found. Significantly lower maternal serum Ferric Reducing Potential and albumin concentration were noted in pregnant women between 25 to 29 and 30 to 36 weeks, respectively. However, extracellular superoxide dismutase activity and erythrocyte reduced glutathione concentration were increased in gestational groups compared to nonpregnant group. Malondialdehyde concentrations plus 4-hydroxy-nonenal correlated significantly and inversely with birthweight, while erythrocyte reduced glutathione correlated significantly and directly in the two groups of pregnant women; however, the activity of the total extracellular superoxide dismutase correlated with birthweight only in the group of pregnant women between 30 and 36 weeks. We conclude that the behavior of the indicators of maternal redox status and its influence on birthweight is similar for both groups of pregnant women with gestational age studied.