Lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status in maternal and cord blood

The present study was undertaken to determine the change of blood lipid per oxide and antioxidant status in healthy nonpregnant women (n = 20), pregnan t women in the third trimester (n = 20), pregnant women during delivery (n = 26) and fetal cord blood. Plasma and erythrocyte malondialdehyde (MDA) le vels were found to be significantly higher and erythrocyte glutathione (GSH ) levels were significantly lower in pregnant women in the third trimester th a n in nonpregnant women (p < 0.02, p < 0.03 and p < 0.001, respectively ). The highest plasma and erythrocyte MDA levels and the fewest GSH levels were obtained from the pregnant women during delivery (6.99 +/- 2.35 nmol/m l, 283.20 +/- 43.81 nmol/g Hb, 6.73 +/- 2.34 mu mol/g Hb, respectively). Er ythrocyte glutathione peroxidase (GSH-P) and glutathione reductase (GSH-R) activities were not different between the groups. Maternal plasma and eryth rocyte MDA levels were significantly correlated with cord blood plasma and erythrocyte MDA levels (r = 0.63, p < 0.001, and r = 0.41, p < 0.001, respe ctively). There was a significant positive correlation in GSH-R and in GSH- P activities between maternal and cord blood erythrocytes (r = 0.81, p < 0. 001, and r = 0.79, p < 0.001, respectively). A significant correlation was found between maternal erythrocyte GSH-P and both cord blood erythrocyte GS H-R activities (r = 0.74, p <less than> 0.001) and cord erythrocyte GSH lev els (r = 0.73, p < 0.001). There was also a significant negative correlatio n between maternal erythrocyte MDA and cord erythrocyte GSH-R levels (r = - 0.9, p < 0.001). Our results suggest that lipid peroxidation and antioxidan t status may be changed during delivery, and these changes may affect the f etus by creating oxidative stress. Copyright (C) 2001 S.Karger AG, Basel.