Association of maternal smoking with increased infant oxidative stress at 3 months of age.
BACKGROUND
Cigarette smoke is a major source of free radicals and oxidative stress. With a significant proportion of women still smoking during pregnancy, this common and avoidable exposure has the potential to influence infant oxidative status, which is implicated in the increased propensity for airway inflammation and asthma. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of maternal smoking on markers of infant oxidative stress.


METHODS
The level of oxidative stress (using urinary F2-isoprostanes as a marker of lipid peroxidation) was compared in infants of smokers (n = 33) and non-smokers (n = 54) at 3 months of age. These groups were balanced for maternal atopy and socioeconomic status. Infant urinary cotinine levels were also measured as an indicator of early postnatal cigarette smoke exposure.


RESULTS
Maternal smoking was associated with significantly higher infant cotinine levels, despite the fact that most smoking mothers (83.8%) claimed not to smoke near their baby. Maternal smoking was associated with significantly higher markers of oxidative stress (F2-isoprostane) at 3 months of age. There was also a positive correlation between urinary F2-isoprostanes and infant urinary cotinine levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Although this study does not separate the prenatal and postnatal effects of smoking, these findings indicate that environmental tobacco smoke in the early postnatal period adversely affects pro-oxidative/antioxidative status within weeks of life in very early infancy.
Noakes
Paul S
PS
School of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Western Australia, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Perth, WA 6840, Australia.
Thomas
Richard
R
Lane
Catherine
C
Mori
Trevor A
TA
Barden
Anne E
AE
Devadason
Sunalene G
SG
Prescott
Susan L
SL
D003367:Cotinine / Q000652:urine; D028441:F2-Isoprostanes / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000502:physiology; D009035:Mothers; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology*; D012907:Smoking; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis
D028441:F2-Isoprostanes; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution; D003367:Cotinine