Relationship between alpha-tocopherol content in the different lipoprotein fractions in term pregnant women and in umbilical cord blood.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the concentration of vitamin E in normal maternal and umbilical cord blood pairs, and to study the relationship between vitamin E content in maternal lipoprotein fractions and umbilical cord blood.


METHODS
Fifty healthy pregnant women were recruited randomly at term and blood samples were drawn from the mothers at delivery and cord blood was obtained immediately postpartum. Vitamin E was determined by HPLC in plasma, in the different lipoprotein fractions and in the placenta. Plasma levels of triglycerides and cholesterol were also measured.


RESULTS
The concentration of vitamin E in umbilical cord plasma was 250 microg/dl, lower than in maternal plasma (1,460 microg/dl) (p < 0.001). A positive correlation was found between the vitamin E concentration in maternal plasma, LDL and VLDL and in the umbilical cord plasma. In contrast, no correlation was found between maternal HDL concentration and umbilical cord blood.


CONCLUSIONS
These results show that the concentration of vitamin E in umbilical cord blood is lower than in maternal plasma. LDL and VLDL seem to be the main source of vitamin E for the fetus.
Sánchez-Vera
Isabel
I
Department of Biomedical Sciences, Universidad San Pablo-CEU, Fundación Hospital Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain.
Bonet
Bartolomé
B
Viana
Marta
M
Sanz
Concepción
C
D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry; D008079:Lipoproteins, VLDL / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*
D000975:Antioxidants; D008074:Lipoproteins; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D008079:Lipoproteins, VLDL; D014280:Triglycerides; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol