Maternal plasma antioxidant status in the first trimester of pregnancy and development of obstetric complications

- A global score calculated from plasma biomarkers might be used as predictive tool.
- Low antioxidant status in early gestation associates with complications development.
- Assisted reproduction does not affect early antioxidant status or oxidative damage.
- Plasma diurnal melatonin has an inverse relationship with protein oxidative damage.
- Intake of vegetables influences plasma oxidative status and could modulate disease.

IntroductionOxidative stress is present in pregnancy complications. However, it is unknown if early maternal antioxidant status could influence later development of complications. The use of assisted reproduction techniques (ART) is rising due to the delay of first pregnancy and there is scarce information on its influence on oxidative balance.ObjectiveTo assess the possible relationship between maternal plasma antioxidant status in first trimester of gestation with later development of pregnancy complications, evaluating the influence of ART and nutrition.MethodsPlasma from 98 healthy pregnant women was obtained at week 10, nutrition questionnaires filled and women were followed until delivery. We evaluated biomarkers of oxidative damage (carbonyls, malondialdehyde-MDA), antioxidants (thiols, reduced glutathione, phenolic compounds, catalase and superoxide dismutase activities) by spectrophotometry/fluorimetry and melatonin (ELISA). Antioxidant status score (Antiox-S) was calculated as the computation of antioxidants. Diet-antioxidants relationship was evaluated through multiple correspondence analysis.ResultsMelatonin and carbonyls exhibited a negative correlation. No difference in oxidative damage was found between groups, but Antiox-S was significantly lower in women who developed complications. No differences in oxidative damage or Antiox-S were found between ART and no-ART pregnancies. High consumption of foods of vegetable origin cluster with high plasma levels of phenolic compounds and with high Antiox-S.ConclusionsIn early normal gestation, low plasma antioxidant status, assessed through a global score, associates with later development of pregnancy complications. Larger population studies could help to determine the value of Antiox-S as predictive tool and the relevance of nutrition on maternal antioxidant status.