title: Non-invasive spectroscopic determination of the antioxidative status of gravidae and neonates.
abstract: Pregnancy and postpartum adaptation cause an increased formation of free radicals. This is associated with various perinatological diseases, e.g. necrotising enterocolitis. The human body has developed a protective system in the form of the antioxidative potential. The present study was the first to investigate the kinetics of the cutaneous antioxidative status in pregnant women and newborns using a non-invasive spectroscopic method. Eighteen pregnant women and their babies took part in the study. A light-emitting diode-based compact scanner system was used for quick non-invasive measurements of carotenoid antioxidants in human skin based on reflection spectroscopy. It could be shown that the antioxidative status of the expectant mothers significantly declined during labour (p < 0.001) and on day 1 after delivery (p < 0.01). Compared to the mothers, the newborns exhibited a significantly higher cutaneous carotenoid concentration on both day 1 (p < 0.01) and 5 (p < 0.01) after delivery. These results suggest that the oxidative stress due to postpartum adaptation is counteracted by an enhanced reservoir of carotenoid antioxidants in the subcutaneous fatty tissue. The peripartum cutaneous carotenoid level of mothers declines continuously, whereas term newborns show very high cutaneous antioxidant values.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rostock, Klinikum Südstadt, Rostock, Germany.
authors.forename: Hanne
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lademann
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gerber
authors.forename: Dirk M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Olbertz
authors.forename: Maxim E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Darvin
authors.forename: Leonie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Stauf
authors.forename: Kirsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ueberholz
authors.forename: Verena
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Heinrich
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lademann
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Briese
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000378:metabolism*; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism*; D013057:Spectrum Analysis / Q000379:methods; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002338:Carotenoids