Correlation of antioxidant status with gestational period of uncomplicated pregnancy in Nigerian women.

Abstract

Background/objective: Pregnancy is a state of oxidative stress because of the high level of metabolic activity of the placenta mitochondrion which generates reactive oxygen radicals. There is conflicting information on antioxidants status in women with uncomplicated pregnancy. This study seeks to evaluate some antioxidant levels in pregnant women and correlate the levels with gestational periods.
Materials and Methods: Serum superoxide dismutase, catalase, uric acid and albumin were assayed using commercially available kits in 80 pregnant women with normal pregnancy and 50 apparently healthy age matched controls.
Results: The results showed that serum uric acid, albumin and catalase were lower (p<0.001) in pregnant women compared with controls while the difference in the superoxide dismutase activity was not statistically significant (p=0.19). The levels of the measured variables were lowest during the first trimester of pregnancy, but uric acid, albumin and superoxide dismutase increased progressively with gestational age. While catalase activity decreased in the 2nd trimester but increased in 3rd trimester. Uric acid (r=0550;p<0.001), albumin(r=0.670;p<0.001), catalase(r=0.271;p=0.015) and SOD(r=0.221;p=0.048) correlated positively with trimesters of pregnancy.
Conclusion: The antioxidant parameters were lower in pregnant women than control subjects but the levels progressively increased with gestational period of pregnancy.

Keywords: Albumin, catalase, superoxide dismutase, uric acid, uncomplicated pregnancy.