Cigarette Smoking during Pregnancy: Effects on Antioxidant Enzymes, Metallothionein and Trace Elements in Mother-Newborn Pairs

Abstract

The effect of maternal smoking as a source of exposure to toxic metals Cd and Pb on superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity, metallothionein (MT), Cd, Pb, Cu, Fe, Mn, Se and Zn concentrations were assessed in maternal and umbilical cord blood and placenta in 74 healthy mother-newborn pairs after term delivery. Sparse discriminant analysis (SDA) was used to identify elements with the strongest impact on the SOD, GPx and MT in the measured compartments, which was then quantified by multiple regression analysis. SOD activity was lower in maternal and cord plasma, and higher in the placenta of smokers compared to non-smokers, whereas GPx activity and MT concentration did not differ between the groups. Although active smoking during pregnancy contributed to higher maternal Cd and Pb concentrations, its contribution to the variability of SOD, GPx or MT after control for other elements identified by SDA was not significant. However, an impaired balance in the antioxidant defence observed in the conditions of relatively low-to-moderate exposure levels to Cd and Pb could contribute to an increased susceptibility of offspring to oxidative stress and risk of disease development later in life. Further study on a larger number of subjects will help to better understand complex interactions between exposure to toxic elements and oxidative stress related to maternal cigarette smoking.

The Impact of Early Pregnancy and Exposure to Tobacco Smoke on Blood Antioxidant Status and Copper, Zinc, Cadmium Concentration—A Pilot Study

“…Regardless of exposure to tobacco smoke, higher concentrations of Cu and values of Cu/Zn were found in the serum of non-smoking and smoking pregnant women when compared to non-smoking and smoking non-pregnant women, respectively. Our results clearly show that pregnancy itself is associated with higher Cu concentration, whereas exposure to tobacco smoke, independently of type (passive or active smoking), did not influence Cu concentrations in the pregnant group, which coincides with our earlier study conducted in the group of pregnant women with IUGR [ 1 ] and with results obtained by other authors [ 10 ]. In addition, similar to our previous study, the average Cu concentration in the serum of pregnant women was higher than the reference range of the used method [ 1 ].…”

“…The smoking pregnant woman exposes her fetus to a variety of harmful chemicals [ 10 ] which disturb, inter alia, the homeostasis of trace elements, such as Zn and Cu [ 11 ]. Previous studies showed that the optimum concentration of Zn and Cu, as well as the correct value of the Cu/Zn ratio, plays a crucial role in fertility and reproductive outcomes [ 12 ].…”

Smoking Genes: A Case–Control Study of Dopamine Transporter Gene (SLC6A3) and Dopamine Receptor Genes (DRD1, DRD2 and DRD3) Polymorphisms and Smoking Behaviour in a Malay Male Cohort

“…Moreover, although our study determined that systolic blood pressure values were significantly lower in smokers, no such difference was observed in a Greek population [65]. We also observed a significant contribution to smoking behaviour when any of the family members smoked, which is in line with previous studies [66][67][68][69].…”

Outcome of Tobacco Smoking Habit on Lipid Peroxidation and Antioxidant parameters in Anemic Individuals

“…Smoking has more effect on the health because it is associated with 1-3 higher number of cigare es smoked. The present study indicates marked increase in reac ve oxygen species produc on as reflected by elevated oxidant and decreased [5][6][7][8] an oxidants parameters in anemic smokers. 20-50yrs me is the cri cal me for the health and future development [20][21][22][23][24] and cigare e smoking can influence lifelong health risk.…”