Association of maternal smoking with increased infant oxidative stress at 3 months of age

Abstract

Background: Cigarette smoke is a major source of free radicals and oxidative stress. With a significant proportion of women still smoking during pregnancy, this common and avoidable exposure has the potential to influence infant oxidative status, which is implicated in the increased propensity for airway inflammation and asthma. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of maternal smoking on markers of infant oxidative stress. Methods: The level of oxidative stress (using urinary F 2 -isoprostanes as a marker of lipid peroxidation) was compared in infants of smokers (n = 33) and non-smokers (n = 54) at 3 months of age. These groups were balanced for maternal atopy and socioeconomic status. Infant urinary cotinine levels were also measured as an indicator of early postnatal cigarette smoke exposure. Results: Maternal smoking was associated with significantly higher infant cotinine levels, despite the fact that most smoking mothers (83.8%) claimed not to smoke near their baby. Maternal smoking was associated with significantly higher markers of oxidative stress (F 2 -isoprostane) at 3 months of age. There was also a positive correlation between urinary F 2 -isoprostanes and infant urinary cotinine levels. Conclusions: Although this study does not separate the prenatal and postnatal effects of smoking, these findings indicate that environmental tobacco smoke in the early postnatal period adversely affects prooxidative/antioxidative status within weeks of life in very early infancy.

Transgenerational Effects of Maternal Nicotine Exposure During Gestation and Lactation on the Respiratory System

“…It has been shown that maternal smoking is associated with increased levels of oxidative stress markers in the mother and offspring [37,38]. There is also convincing in vivo and in vitro evidence suggesting that exposure to nicotine results in oxidative stress in fetal, neonatal and adult tissues [38,39].…”

A Strong Synergism of Low Birth Weight and Prenatal Smoking on Asthma in Schoolchildren

“…14,[27][28][29][30][31] The study included almost all 11-to 12-year-olds in these 3 municipalities as school attendance is mandatory in Sweden, virtually eliminating selection bias. Through use of an extensive questionnaire, the study cohort was well characterized.…”

“…33 Prenatal smoke exposure affects exhaled nitric oxide, 29 increases levels of F2-isoprostanes in infants, 34 and also increases T-helper type 2 cell responses in neonates. 28 Thus, it seems that although birth weight mainly affects lung function, prenatal and later smoke exposure has immunologic effects associated with the development of asthma. We therefore postulate that airway inflammation from prenatal smoking in an underdeveloped lung owing to intrauterine growth impairment could explain the interaction seen in our study.…”

“…Maternal smoking exclusively at age 11 to 12 years was not associated with physician-diagnosed asthma (RR: 1.13 [95% CI: 0.70 -1.83]), but this relationship is complicated, as mothers who smoke during pregnancy are, in general, heavier smokers. 13,28 …”

Exploring predictors of tobacco use during pregnancy in Northern British Columbia: Barriers to conducting tobacco research.

“…Smoking results in increased morbidity and mortality from cancers, cardiovascular and pulmonary disease in the mother, and has been implicated in the etiology of abruption placenta, placenta previa, spontaneous abortion, premature delivery, and stillbirth (Meyer, Jonas, & Tonascia, 1976;Naeye, 1979;Ness et al, 1999;Walsh, 1994). Recent findings have confirmed significant immunological effects of smoking on the fetus, resulting in higher rates of respiratory infections, asthma (Noakes, Hale, Thomas, & Devadason, 2006) and cancer (Sheung & Zelikoff, 2006). Results from a study based on 9,000 pregnancies found that maternal smoking also reduced the chances of conceiving a male child, and may have prevented male embryos from implanting in the womb, causing miscarriages (Woolfe, 2007).…”