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.
Schulpis
Kleopatra H
KH
Institute of Child Health, Research Center, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece.
Papakonstantinou
Evangelos D
ED
Vlachos
George D
GD
Vlachos
Dimitrios G
DG
Antsaklis
Aris
A
Papassotiriou
Ioannis
I
Tsakiris
Stylianos
S
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