The effect of the mode of delivery on the maternal-neonatal carnitine blood levels and antioxidant status.
BACKGROUND
Carnitine blood levels are closely related to beta-oxidation and implicated with strenuous muscle contractions. Normal delivery process is characterized by the participation of the uterus and most skeletal muscles.


METHODS
Women with normal pregnancy (n = 56) were divided into two groups. Group A (n = 26) with normal labor and vaginal delivery and group B (n = 30) with scheduled cesarean section. Blood was obtained from the mothers at the beginning of labor and immediately after delivery (pre- vs. post-delivery), as well as from the cord blood (CB). Total antioxidant status (TAS) was measured with a commercial kit and carnitine was measured in blood spots on Guthrie cards with tandem-mass spectrometry.


RESULTS
TAS and carnitine levels were similar in all the groups pre-delivery. In contrast, TAS and carnitine levels were significantly lower in group A than in group B post-delivery. Remarkably lower TAS and carnitine levels were measured in the CB of neonates of group A as compared to the CB of neonates of group B.


CONCLUSIONS
The lower TAS and carnitine levels measured in group A as compared to group B postdelivery may be due to uterus and skeletal muscle contraction during a normal labor process. Infants born with scheduled cesarean section are benefited with high carnitine levels to face oxidation perinatally.
Institute of Child Health, Research Center, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece.
Kleopatra H
KH
Schulpis
Evangelos D
ED
Papakonstantinou
George D
GD
Vlachos
Dimitrios G
DG
Vlachos
Aris
A
Antsaklis
Ioannis
I
Papassotiriou
Stylianos
S
Tsakiris
D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis; D002331:Carnitine / Q000097:blood*; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy
D000975:Antioxidants; D002331:Carnitine