Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 29, 2026
Biochemical Measurement of Neonatal Hypoxia
Published on: August 24, 2011
Free radicals and antioxidants status in neonates with congenital malformation
Bedabrata Mukhopadhyay1, Ajay Narayan Gongopadhyay2, Anjali Rani3
1Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Insights
Oxidative stress markers are elevated in newborns with congenital anomalies, indicating a potential role in birth defect development. This imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants may contribute to infant mortality from congenital malformations.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Neonatology
- Pediatric Research
Background:
- Oxidative stress during pregnancy is implicated in birth defects via animal models.
- Congenital anomalies cause significant infant mortality globally.
- Research is ongoing to reduce congenital anomaly-related infant deaths.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify oxidant and antioxidant levels in newborns with congenital anomalies.
- To compare these levels against age- and sex-matched healthy neonates.
- To investigate the potential role of oxidative stress in congenital anomaly causation.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving 159 neonates (106 with congenital anomalies, 53 healthy controls).
- Measurement of serum malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyl (PC) as oxidative stress markers.
- Assay of antioxidant levels, including Vitamin C and glutathione.
Main Results:
- Newborns with congenital malformations exhibited significantly higher MDA and PC levels (P < 0.0001).
- Significantly lower Vitamin C and reduced glutathione levels were observed in neonates with congenital anomalies (P < 0.0001).
Conclusions:
- Elevated lipid peroxidation and protein carbonylation may contribute to congenital anomaly pathogenesis.
- An impaired free radical/antioxidant balance leads to increased free radical damage in affected neonates.
- Findings highlight oxidative stress as a key factor in congenital malformations.
Background:
Several studies using animal models have shown that oxidative stress during pregnancy may play an important role in causing birth defects. Congenital anomalies affect an estimated 270,000 newborns who die during the first 28 days of life every year from different birth defects. Hence, at present many research works are going on to reduce the infant mortality from congenital anomaly.[1].
Objective:
The objective was to measure the oxidant and antioxidant level in the serum of newborn babies with the congenital anomaly and compare these levels with age and sex matched normal neonates. This is to identify any role of oxidative stress in the causation of congenital anomaly.
Materials And Methods:
This case-control study included 159 participants: 106 newborns with the congenital anomaly and 53 healthy newborns. The markers of oxidative stress like serum malondialdehyde (MDA) level, protein carbonyl (PC) level, and the activity of antioxidants such as Vitamin C, glutathione were measured in both cases (neonates with congenital anomaly) and controls (normal healthy neonates). These parameters were statistically compared.
Results:
MDA levels and PC levels were significantly higher (P < 0.0001), and Vitamin C and reduced glutathione levels were significantly lower (P < 0.0001), in newborns with congenital malformation than in healthy newborns.
Conclusions:
Increased lipid peroxidation and protein carbonylation might play an important role in the pathogenesis of congenital anomaly. Impairment of the free radical/antioxidant balance is leading to increased free radical damage in neonates with congenital malformation.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:07Teratogenicity
01:20Radical Autoxidation
01:25Bioactivation and Tissue Toxicity