Fatty acids, antioxidants, and oxidative stress in pre-eclampsia

ObjectiveTo investigate whether free radical-mediated membrane lipid peroxidation may be implicated in the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia.MethodsA prospective study using a sample of 55 healthy pregnant women and 60 pre-eclamptic women recruited at Bharati Medical Hospital, Pune, India. Maternal and cord samples were examined for (red blood cells and plasma) fatty acid profiles, antioxidants, and oxidative stress levels. Mean values were compared between case and control groups using the t test and Wilcoxon rank test.ResultsPre-eclamptic women showed reduced total omega-3 fatty acids (P < 0.05), increased omega-6:omega-3 ratio (P < 0.05), higher oxidative stress (P < 0.05), and lower antioxidant (P < 0.05) levels. Similar trends were also observed in cord samples.ConclusionReduced antioxidants and increased oxidative stress leading to impaired essential polyunsaturated fatty acid levels may be a key factor in the development of pre-eclampsia.