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Maternal antioxidant concentrations after uncomplicated pregnancies
Eva Maria Roes1, Maarten T M Raijmakers, Jan C M Hendriks
1Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University Medical Center Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Free Radical Research
|May 7, 2005
Summary
Post-partum antioxidant levels, including vitamin E, decrease shortly after delivery, potentially reducing lipid peroxidation. Some thiol levels dropped in the caesarean group, possibly due to fasting.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Obstetrics
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Investigating post-partum changes in blood antioxidant concentrations in women with uncomplicated pregnancies.
- Analyzing intra- and extra-cellular antioxidant status after delivery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare post-partum blood antioxidant concentrations between women who underwent caesarean section and those with spontaneous delivery.
- To assess changes in thiols, vitamins E and C, and ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) in the post-partum period.
Main Methods:
- Measured whole blood and plasma thiols, plasma vitamins E and C, serum lipids, and FRAP.
- Compared concentrations between caesarean (n=17) and spontaneous delivery (n=10) groups.
- Utilized a repeated mixed model for statistical analysis.
Main Results:
- Whole blood thiols generally increased post-partum, but some dropped significantly within 24 hours in the caesarean group.
- Plasma vitamin E levels decreased significantly in both groups within 24-48 hours post-delivery.
- Three months post-partum, thiols and vitamin E levels showed significant changes compared to ante-partum levels, while vitamin C and FRAP remained unchanged.
Conclusions:
- Decreased post-partum plasma vitamin E is linked to reduced lipid peroxidation.
- The transient drop in certain thiols in the caesarean group may be attributed to prolonged fasting.
- Significant alterations in blood antioxidants occur in the early post-partum period, varying by delivery method.