title: Influence of fish oil or folate supplementation on the time course of plasma redox markers during pregnancy.
abstract: Maternal supplementation with long-chain PUFA, to improve infant neurological development, might cause additional increase of oxidative stress. Pregnant women aged 18-41 years were randomised into one of four supplementation groups. From week 22 on, they received supplements containing either modified fish oil (n 69), 5-methyl-tetrahydro-folate (n 65), both (n 64), or placebo (n 72). Plasma Trolox-equivalent antioxidative capacity (TEAC), concentrations of alpha-tocopherol, retinol, beta-carotene, free thiol groups, uric acid and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) were determined at weeks 20 and 30 and at delivery. The studied antioxidants showed no significant differences between the four supplementation groups. At week 30 plasma TBARS levels were found to be significantly higher in the fish oil group (0.80 (sem 0.04) micromol/l) than in the folate (0.67 (sem 0.03) micromol/l; P = 0.024) and control (0.69 (sem 0.04) micromol/l; P = 0.01) groups. Concentrations of retinol and free thiol groups decreased during pregnancy, whereas uric acid increased and beta-carotene as well as TEAC showed only minor changes. Fish oil supplementation during the second half of pregnancy appears not to decrease antioxidant status. The increased TBARS levels at week 30 may indicate a period of increased oxidative stress in plasma at this time.
authors.affiliation: Division of Metabolism and Nutrition, Dr. v. Hauner Children's Hospital, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Corinna
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Franke
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Demmelmair
authors.forename: Tamas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Decsi
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Campoy
authors.forename: Milagros
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.forename: Juan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Molina-Font
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.forename: Berthold
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Koletzko
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010919:Placebos; D011247:Pregnancy; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000097:blood; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000032:analysis; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000097:blood; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D005395:Fish Oils; D010919:Placebos; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D019207:beta Carotene; D014801:Vitamin A; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D014527:Uric Acid; D005492:Folic Acid; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol