[The effect of tobacco smoking during pregnancy on concentration of vitamin E in blood of mothers and their newborns in umbilical cord blood].
OBJECTIVE
Cigarette smoking during pregnancy generates free radicals and has been implicated in oxidative cellular damage. Vitamin E is natural factor protecting cells from damaging influence of free oxygen species.


METHODS
The aim of the study was to estimate the effect of tobacco smoking during pregnancy on concentration of vitamin E in blood of mother and newborns.


METHODS
147 healthy, pregnant women were divided into non-smoking (n = 85) and smoking group (n = 62) according to the concentration of cotinine in serum and urine. Level of vitamin E was measured by HPLC (high pressure liquid chromatography) method in plasma and erythrocytes of mothers and umbilical cord blood.


RESULTS
We observed that, in group of women smoking during pregnancy concentration of vitamin E was lower in plasma and in erythrocytes as compared with group of non-smoking women. Also in cord blood of newborns of smoking mothers level of vitamin E was significantly lower in plasma (p < 0.01) as well as in erythrocytes (p < 0.0001) than in control group.


CONCLUSIONS
Reduced concentration of plasma and erythrocytes vitamin E during pregnancy suggest that consumption of this antioxidant for neutralization of free radicals present in cigarette smoking is enhanced.
Chełchowska
Magdalena
M
Zakład Biochemii i Diagnostyki Klinicznej, Instytutu Matki i Dziecka w Warszawie.
Laskowska-Klita
Teresa
T
Leibschang
Jerzy
J
D000328:Adult; D003367:Cotinine / Q000097:blood; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D008659:Metabolic Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood*; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000097:blood*; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood*
D014810:Vitamin E; D003367:Cotinine