Low molecular weight plasma antioxidants and lipid peroxidation in maternal and cord blood.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the concentrations of the low molecular weight antioxidants urate, bilirubin, albumin and sulphydryl groups and to measure lipid peroxidation levels in pair-matched maternal and cord blood plasma.


METHODS
Venous blood plasma concentrations of urate, bilirubin, albumin and sulphydryls were determined in healthy pregnant women and in pair matched umbilical cords. The ability of maternal and cord plasma to withstand Cu2+-induced lipid peroxidation was assessed by measuring the production of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) over time in plasma incubated with Cu2+.


METHODS
Forty healthy women, between 10 and 20 weeks gestation, were recruited randomly from an antenatal clinic. Venous blood samples were obtained from the mothers at the recruitment stage and from the umbilical cords of their newborn after delivery.


RESULTS
Urate, bilirubin and sulphydryls were present in significantly higher concentrations (P<0.001) in cord plasma than in maternal plasma. Albumin levels were similar in mothers and cords. Significantly lower levels (P=0.018) of TBARS were produced in cord plasma compared with maternal plasma following incubation with Cu2+. There were significant correlations between albumin and sulphydryl concentrations in maternal plasma (r 0.43, P=0.007) and between urate concentrations in maternal and cord plasma (r 0.37, P=0.026).


CONCLUSIONS
Urate, bilirubin and sulphydryls are present in significantly higher concentrations in cord blood than in maternal blood. The increased levels of these antioxidants in cord plasma may contribute to the increased resistance of cord plasma to Cu2+-induced lipid peroxidation.
Kiely
M
M
Nutritional Sciences, Department of Food Science and Technology, University College, Cork, Ireland and.
Morrissey
P A
PA
Cogan
P F
PF
Kearney
P J
PJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis*; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008970:Molecular Weight; D011247:Pregnancy; D012016:Reference Values; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000097:blood; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood
D000975:Antioxidants; D012709:Serum Albumin; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D014527:Uric Acid; D001663:Bilirubin