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Neonatal and maternal levels of lipid-soluble antioxidants
1Department of Paediatrics, University of Parma, Italy.
Insights
Neonatal lipid-soluble antioxidants, including vitamin E and carotenoids, are lower than maternal levels. Maternal vitamin E doesn't affect infant levels, but maternal carotenoids do, impacting infant antioxidant defenses.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal nutrition and oxidative stress
- Maternal-fetal health
- Antioxidant biochemistry
Background:
- Lipid peroxidation contributes to neonatal complications.
- Understanding neonatal antioxidant defenses is crucial.
- Lipid-soluble antioxidants like vitamin E and carotenoids protect against oxidative damage.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate antioxidant lipid-soluble defenses in newborns.
- To compare neonatal and maternal levels of vitamin E and carotenoids.
- To explore the relationship between maternal and neonatal antioxidant levels.
Main Methods:
- High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used for analysis.
- Quantified levels of vitamin E and carotenoids in healthy term infants and their mothers.
- Comparative analysis of antioxidant concentrations between maternal and neonatal groups.
Main Results:
- Neonatal levels of vitamin E and carotenoids were significantly lower than maternal levels.
- Neonatal vitamin E concentrations showed no correlation with maternal levels.
- Neonatal carotenoid concentrations were strictly correlated with maternal levels.
Conclusions:
- Newborns have reduced levels of key lipid-soluble antioxidants compared to their mothers.
- Maternal vitamin E status does not directly influence neonatal levels.
- Maternal carotenoid levels are a significant factor in determining neonatal carotenoid status.
Abstract:
Lipid peroxidation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of several neonatal complications. To improve the knowledge on the antioxidant lipid-soluble defenses in neonatal age, we investigated a group of healthy full-term infants and their mothers measuring by high-pressure liquid chromatography the levels of vitamin E and carotenoids. Our data demonstrate that neonatal levels of lipid-soluble anti-oxidants are lower than the maternal ones. Moreover we show that neonatal Vitamin E and carotenoid concentrations are respectively unrelated and strictly related to maternal levels of the same lipid-soluble anti-oxidants.