Free Radical Attack on Membrane Lipid and Antioxidant Vitamins in the Course of Pre-Eclamptic Pregnancy

Abstract

BackgroundDespite the volume of knowledge and daily reports on pre-eclampsia, its pathogenesis is still yet to be ascertained. Oxidative stress (oxidant (free radical) in excess of antioxidant) injury is one of the recently suggested pathogenetic mechanisms. This study, however, was designed to determine second and third trimesters of plasma malondialdehyde (product of free radical attack on membrane lipid) and vitamins C and E in pre-eclamptic Nigerian women.Subjects and MethodsA Total of 100 subjects, each for pre-eclamptic, apparently normal and non-pregnant women qualified for the study. Venous blood samples were taken in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy and at the point of contact for non-pregnant women. Variables were analyzed using SPSS version 16, taking level of significance to be 0.05.ResultsPlasma malondialdehyde in the third trimester of normal pregnancy (2.03±0.71µmol/l) was found to be significantly higher than the one in the second trimester (1.65±0.62µmol/l) (p<0.0001). For pre-eclamptic subjects, the malondialdehyde in the third trimester (3.13±0.61µmol/l) was also higher than the malondialdehyde in the second trimester (3.00±1.21µmol/l). The mean vitamin C values for subjects with normal pregnancy were similar in the second and third trimesters (38.25±19.66 vs. 38.66±19.40; p=0.882). For subjects with pre-eclampsia, the mean Vit C values were also similar in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters (35.05±18.37 vs. 37.20±24.44µmol/l; p=0.175). Mean vitamin E values in the second and third trimesters were also similar for subjects with normal pregnancy (28.62±13.85 vs. 28.50±13.35µmol/l; p=0.950). A similar finding was observed in pre-eclamptic subjects (25.09±12.79 vs. 28.00±14.83µmol/l; p=0.067).ConclusionThere was an increased product of membrane lipid attack (malondialdehyde) with no change in plasma levels of vitamins C and E as pregnancy advances into the third trimester of both normal and pre-eclamptic pregnancies. Antioxidant vitamins may not be useful in stopping the progression of free radical attack on membrane lipid to control pre-eclampsia.

Dyslipidemia and Anti-Oxidative System in Preeclamptic Women at Rural Area of Rayalasema

“…Free radicals and other damaging reactive oxygen species can cause lipid peroxidation by oxidative metabolic processes then their activation is thought to increase during pre-eclampsia .In the course of the reaction of free radical with polyunsaturated membrane lipid, a systemic stable product malondialdehyde is produced and this is currently being used as an index of free radical injury . In our study, we observed an increase in plasma malondialdehyde level in preeclamptic women when compared with normal pregnant our findings is in agreement with similar studies which reported a significantly elevated level of malondialdehyde in both normal and preeclamptic pregnant women [17,18]. Endothelial cell dysfunction in glomerula leads to reduction in renal perfusion and glomerular filtration in pre eclampsia.…”

“…Increase in oxidative stress markers has been implicated to damage the maternal vascular endothelium leading to the elevation in diastolic pressure which further aggravates the condition of preeclamptic patients [18,19]. The imbalance between oxidative damage and antioxidant defences in pre-eclampsia leads to endothelial cell dysfunction and it appears to be a central feature in the patho-physiology of preeclampsia [17]. Compared with healthy pregnant women, preeclamptic women have low levels of several dietary antioxidants in their blood, including vitamin C, vitamin E, and lycopene and beta carotene.…”

“…Fasting Blood was drawn the serum will be separated and analyzed for the following parameters at the time of recruitment for lipid profile, uric acid, MDA, and vitamin C assays. Sample analysis: MDA will be measured by Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances assay (TBRAS) method [16] and ascorbic acid by Dinitrophenyl Hydrazine ( DNPH) method [17]. The uric acid will be measured by Uricase method using Human diagnostics kit [18].…”

Longitudinal Study of Delta-Aminolevulinate Dehydratase Activity and Oxidative Profile in Healthy Pregnant Women

“…This could be justified as the vitamin is a reducing agent, and is considered as a “preventative” or “primary” antioxidant because it acts as a first-line defense mechanism for the plasma and cytosol. It reacts with free radicals such as superoxide and hydrogen peroxide, by donating electrons to destroy them before they react with lipoproteins and membranes, avoiding lipid peroxidation and the beginning of the oxidative process [48,49].…”

Composition Analysis by UPLC-PDA-ESI (−)-HRMS and Antioxidant Activity Using Saccharomyces cerevisiae Model of Herbal Teas and Green Teas from Hainan

“…In addition, we found that 80% DMSO did not result in a halo, indicating that 80% DMSO was not toxic in yeast cells ( Figure S11 ). Membrane proteins are often targets of free radical attacks, which lead to lipid peroxidation, cell leakage and death [ 52 , 53 ]. We analyzed intracellular oxidation and lipid peroxidation in cells treated with herbal teas and green teas extracts to test whether these herbal teas and green teas can protect against the oxidative damage.…”