Natural Antioxidant Vitamins Status in Pregnancies Complicated with Intrauterine Growth Restriction.

BACKGROUND: The weight of the infant at birth is a powerful predictor of infant growth and survival and is dependent on maternal health and nutrition during pregnancy. Pregnant women have a defense mechanism against increased oxidative stress composed of antioxidant enzymes and natural antioxidant vitamins like vitamin C and E. Therefore, we evaluated whether differences exist in serum levels of vitamin C and E in pregnant women complicated with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). METHODS: This study was done in 180 pregnant women admitted in hospital for delivery. Blood samples were collected and stored at -70°C until analysis. Among 180 pregnant women 150 were identified as IUGR pregnant women according to the weight of the infant and the remaining 30 normal healthy pregnant women as controls. Blood hemoglobin and serum vitamin C and E levels were measured in both groups. RESULTS: The mean hemoglobin concentration was significantly decreased (p< 0.001) in IUGR pregnant women (8.92 ± 1.35 g/dL) as compared to the normal healthy pregnant women (10.51 ± 1.04 g/dL) in our study. The serum concentration of vitamin C in the group of pregnant women with IUGR was 0.54 ± 0.15 mg/dL, whereas in the group of normal healthy pregnant women it was 0.91 ± 0.23 mg/dL. The serum vitamin E level in the normal healthy pregnant women group was 1.22 ± 0.35 mg/dL and 0.65 ± 0.24 mg/dL in IUGR pregnant women group. The serum vitamin C and E level in IUGR pregnant women group was found to be significantly decreased as compared to the normal healthy pregnant women group. CONCLUSIONS: The study indicates the importance of natural antioxidants vitamin C and E against increased oxidative stress in pregnancies complicated with IUGR. Therefore, it may be useful to measure serum vitamin C and E levels in IUGR pregnant women. This study suggests further research to investigate the role of these natural antioxidant vitamins in fetal growth at various gestation stages.

Serum homocysteine level and its association with folic acid and vitamin B12 in the third trimester of pregnancies complicated with intrauterine growth restriction.

BACKGROUND: Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is a common diagnosis in obstetrics and carries an increased risk of prenatal mortality and morbidity. It is associated with short and long term negative outcome in fetuses, infants, and children. The aim of the study was the determination of serum homocysteine along with folic acid and vitamin B12 concentration in pregnancies complicated with IUGR (intrauterine growth restriction). METHODS: The study was performed in a group of 180 pregnant subjects in the third trimester. Fasting (overnight, at least 12 hour) blood samples were collected from 150 pregnant patients with IUGR and 30 normal pregnant women. Serum total homocysteine (tHcy), serum folic acid, and serum vitamin B12 levels were measured. RESULTS: Mean serum concentration of total homocysteine in the group of pregnant patients with IUGR was 11.14 +/- 4.05 microM/L whereas in the group of normal pregnant women it was 7.42 +/- 2.93 microM/L. The serum folic acid level in the group of pregnant patients with IUGR was 10.24 +/- 3.91 ng/mL while in the group of normal pregnant women it was 15.20 +/- 3.41 ng/mL. The serum vitamin B12 level in the group of pregnant patients with IUGR was 146.99 +/- 43.51 pg/mL where as in the group of normal pregnant women it was 171.96 +/- 25.75 pg/mL. The differences were statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The study revealed that increasing serum homocysteine levels in pregnancies complicated with IUGR were accompanied by decreasing levels of serum folic acid and vitamin B12. Treatment with folic acid and vitamin B12 could improve fetal weight in IUGR pregnant patients with increased homocysteine levels.