Lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status in maternal and cord blood

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to determine the change of blood lipid peroxide and antioxidant status in healthy nonpregnant women (n = 20), pregnant women in the third trimester (n = 20), pregnant women during delivery (n = 26) and fetal cord blood. Plasma and erythrocyte malondialdehyde (MDA) levels 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 0.001) and cord erythrocyte GSH levels (r = 0.73, p < 0.001). There was also a significant negative correlation between maternal erythrocyte MDA and cord erythrocyte GSH-R levels (r = -0.9, p < 0.001). Our results suggest that lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status may be changed during delivery, and these changes may affect the fetus by creating oxidative stress. Copyright (C) 2001 S.Karger AG, Basel.