Oxidative stress and total antioxidant status in term newborns and their mothers

Abstract

The peripartum period and delivery are considered critical for maintaining a balance between the production of free oxygen radicals and functional incompetence of the antioxidant system of a foetus and a neonate. Objective. The aim of the study was to evaluate the oxidoreductive state of mothers and their newborns immediately after delivery and in the first few days after birth. Method. Eighty-five mothers and their healthy, term newborns were included into the prospective study. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in maternal placenta and milk, as well as blood and urine of the neonates on the first and third day after birth, were examined. Results. Elevated levels of TBARS were found in maternal placenta and neonatal blood on the third day after birth, but low concentrations were observed in maternal milk. On the contrary, total antioxidant status (TAS) showed a declining tendency in neonatal blood and an increasing tendency in breast milk. Markers of oxidative stress and antioxidant capacity were independent of the mode of delivery. Conclusions. Values of oxidative stress markers in mothers and newborns immediately after birth were elevated and increased further during the first few days of neonatal life. Breast milk was the only nutritional substance with high antioxidant activity. At the same time, TBARS levels in breast milk decreased, which might indicate its protective role in reducing oxidative stress in newborns.

Oxidative stress markers in neonatal respiratory distress syndrome: advanced oxidation protein products and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine in relation to disease severity

“…37 Moreover, antenatal steroid intensifies that activity of the antioxidant enzymes: glutathione, superoxide dismutases, and catalases. 38 In the present work, there were significant positive correlations between AOPP levels at days 0 and 3 with MDA. Buonocore et al 32 observed a positive correlation between AOPPs and total hydroperoxide (a derivative of lipid peroxidation).…”

Oxidative Stress and Necrotizing Enterocolitis: Pathogenetic Mechanisms, Opportunities for Intervention, and Role of Human Milk

“…During this critical time window, nonenzymatic antioxidants cross the placenta in increasing concentrations and endogenous fetal antioxidant enzyme, such as SOD, has been shown to increase by 150% [ 7 ]. Thus, newborns are exposed to OS during transition to neonatal life and labor; several studies have documented high levels of OS markers in mothers and healthy term infants immediately after birth, further increasing during the first few days of neonatal life [ 8 ].…”

Health Effects of Carotenoids during Pregnancy and Lactation

“…Use of breast milk could influence on decrease of ROP risk (relative risk (RR) 0.39, 95% CI 0.17–0.92) as well as the risk of death before hospital discharge RR 0.27, 95% CI 0.08–0.96 [ 172 ], which may be related to high antioxidant activity of breast milk [ 173 ]. Recent study has revealed that donor milk had 18–53% decreased antioxidants status compared with maternal milk but in most cases still higher than infant formula [ 174 ].…”