Effect of pregnancy on total antioxidant capacity in Nigerian women

To assess the total antioxidant capacity during the 3rd trimester of normal pregnancy with the aim of establishing the status of total antioxidant capacity [TAC] in pregnant Nigerians. The subjects consisted of 20 pregnant Nigerian women and 20 non-pregnant women. The cases were age matched with the controls. Total antioxidant capacity was assayed in both the cases and controls using standard methods of total antioxidant capacity assay. The total antioxidant capacity was lower in the pregnant women 0.84 mmol/L compared with the controls 1.00 mmol/L, P = 0.007 't' test. We observed low total antioxidant capacity in Nigerian women with normal pregnancy. This preliminary report, calls for further investigations