Author(s): Soumitra Chakravarty, Alka N. Sontakke
Free radicals are implicated in several diseases of prematurity. The study aimed to correlate plasma antioxidants levels and lipid peroxidation between maternal and cord blood in normal and preterm deliveries. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Reduced Glutathione (GSH) and Uric acid were the measured antioxidants while Malondialdehyde (MDA) was an index of lipid peroxidation. 32 mothers who delivered preterm and their babies were cases and 32 full term mothers and their babies were controls. Malondialdehyde levels in maternal blood were higher in preterm pregnancies *(7.47±1.13/ml) than full term pregnancies *(3.97±0.0.86nmol/ml). Mean Malondialdehyde in preterm babies *(7.38±1.06nmol/ml) were higher than full term babies *(4.46±0.86nmol/ml). Mean maternal SOD and GSH values were lower in preterm *(SOD;2.57±0.49units/ml and GSH; 3.84±0.55μmol/g Hb) than full term deliveries * (SOD; 3.77±0.76 units/ml and GSH; 5.38±0.77μmol/g Hb). Mean cord blood SOD and GSH values were lower in preterm * (SOD 2.40±0.44nmol/ml & GSH 3.00± 0.63μmol/g Hb) than full term deliveries * (SOD 3.90 ±0.90 units /ml and GSH 4.80 ± 1.20 μmol/ g Hb).Uric Acid levels showed no significant change in both groups. Positive correlation was established with MDA, between maternal and cord blood in both full term and preterm deliveries .Positive correlation was established with SOD levels and GSH levels between maternal and cord blood in both groups. Lipid peroxidation is accelerated in prematurity. Fetal antioxidants may decrease if maternal antioxidants are low. Free radicals damage the tissues of the newborn. Antioxidant supplementation to mothers at high risk category for delivering premature, may be beneficial. (* Mean ± SD)