Antioxidant vitamin levels in term and preterm infants and their relation to maternal vitamin status.
BACKGROUND
Lipid peroxidation plays a vital role in the pathogenesis of many neonatal complications. Preterm babies are especially predisposed to lung diseases and retinopathy, probably due to a deficiency in their antioxidant systems. Vitamins E, A, and C are part of the natural antioxidant defense systems. We aimed to determine the levels of vitamins E, A, and C in maternal and cord blood plasma of term and preterm infants and to investigate the relationships between these levels.


METHODS
In the present study we determined vitamin E, A, and C levels in the umbilical cord blood of term (n = 30) and preterm (n = 22) infants and their mothers by HPLC. Blood samples were taken during delivery.


RESULTS
Levels of lipid soluble antioxidant vitamin E and A in cord blood were lower than maternal values (p <0.01, p <0.05, respectively). Conversely, the level of water-soluble vitamin C was higher in cord blood than in maternal level (p <0.05). Significantly higher levels of vitamins E, A, and C were found in term babies as compared with those born preterm (p <0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
There was a positive correlation between maternal and cord blood levels of vitamins E and A (r = 0.775, r = 0.725, respectively). In conclusion, preterm babies have fewer lipid-soluble antioxidant vitamins in their serum compared to term infants. Therefore, it is possible to postulate that preterm infants are more susceptible to oxidative stress.
Baydas
Giyasettin
G
Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey. baydas@hotmail.com
Karatas
Fikret
F
Gursu
M Ferit
MF
Bozkurt
H Ayse
HA
Ilhan
Nevin
N
Yasar
Abdullah
A
Canatan
Halit
H
D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*
D000975:Antioxidants