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.

The ominous link between obesity and abdominal adiposity with diabetes and diabetic dyslipidemia in diabetic population of developing country.

BACKGROUND: Individuals with obesity and abdominal adiposity are at higher risk for hyperinsulinaemia, insulin resistance, and diabetes. This study was, therefore, designed to evaluate the association of both generalized and regional obesity with metabolic variables and biochemical indices. METHODS: 200 confirmed patients of type-2diabetes of either gender were studied. RESULTS: A statistically significant degree of dyslipidemia was depicted in obese class-II subjects; however, females had a lower degree of dyslipidemia as compared to male subjects with statistically significant results only for HDL-C. Further, multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that BMI is a stronger predictor of FPG and HbA1c as compared to WHR. CONCLUSIONS: Higher plasma glucose levels were depicted at a lower BMI, which turned out to be stronger predictor of glycemic control as compared to WHR. Moreover, BMI, WHR and male gender was significantly correlated with the metabolic parameters and even much more pronounced association with BMI.

Relationship of oxidative stress with obesity and its role in obesity induced metabolic syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Individuals with obesity and abdominal adiposity are at higher risk for hypeinsulinaemia, insulin resistance, and diabetes. This study was therefore designed to investigate the relationship of obesity with oxidative stress and the role of abdominal adiposity on obesity induced oxidative stress, and further to explore the possible mechanism of obesity associated metabolic syndrome. METHODS: A total of 150 subjects (120 men and 30 women), aged 17-26 years of both genders, were studied. Body Mass Index and Waist-to-Hip Ratio were taken as a measure of generalized obesity and abdominal adiposity. The biochemical tests done included fasting blood glucose (FBG), lipid profile parameters, serum malondialdehyde (as a biomarker of oxidative stress), and serum adiponectin. RESULTS: The concentration of serum malondialdehyde (MDA) increased with increasing levels of BMI (as per the NIH classification), which was found to be non-significant statistically in overweight subjects while obese class-I and class-II subjects exhibited a statistically significant (p < 0.001) higher level of serum malondialdehyde as compared to normal-weight subjects. Furthermore, according to the present study groups, on comparison with normal-weight subjects (Group-I), obese subjects with abdominal adiposity (Class-2) had statistically significant (p < 0.001) higher serum concentration of malondialdehyde while a non-significant difference was observed in obese subjects without abdominal adiposity (Class-1). Even within the subset of obese subjects, a statistically significant (p < 0.001) difference was depicted, suggesting the role of abdominal adiposity. Karl Pearson coefficient of correlation revealed a statistically significant negative correlation of malondialdehyde with adiponectin (r = - 0.587; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Obese subjects exhibit increased systemic oxidative stress, which is enhanced when obesity is associated with abdominal adiposity and, moreover, increased oxidative stress is associated with adiponectin deficiency.

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.