Reduced Antioxidant Intake Linked to Pre-Eclampsia

MedWire News: Expectant mothers with low dietary antioxidant intakes have increased oxidative stress levels, which may increase their risk for pre-eclampsia, Indian researchers reveal.

The investigators assessed circulating oxidative stress markers and maternal plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in 60 pregnant women with pre-eclampsia and 55 normotensive pregnant women. Fatty acid profiles and antioxidant levels were also assessed from maternal and cord blood samples.

Oxidative stress markers were significantly higher in the pre-eclamptic than in the normotensive group. MDA levels reached 3.54 nmol/ml among expectant mothers with pre-eclampsia compared with concentrations of 2.46 nmol/ml among controls. Pre-eclamptic cord MDA levels were also markedly increased.

In contrast, antioxidant levels were reduced in the pre-eclamptic group, with maternal vitamin C and E levels decreased by 0.60 and 0.27 nmol/ml, respectively, among pre-eclamptic women compared with those who were normotensive. Reduced concentrations of these vitamins were also observed in cord pre-eclamptic samples.

A similar trend was observed for fatty acid profiles, with reduced omega-3 fatty acid levels seen in both cord and maternal blood samples in the pre-eclamptic group. The ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 was significantly higher in the pre-eclamptic group than among normotensive women, however.

Sadana Joshi (Bharati Vidyapeeth University, Maharashtra, India) and colleagues conclude: “Reduced antioxidants and increased oxidative stress leading to impaired essential polyunsaturated fatty acid levels may be a key factor in the development of pre-eclampsia.”