In early normal gestation, low plasma antioxidant status, assessed through a global score, associates with later development of pregnancy complications. Larger population studies could help to determine the value of Antiox-S as predictive tool and the relevance of nutrition on maternal antioxidant status.

Fetal undernutrition programmes hypertension development, males being more susceptible. Deficient fetal elastogenesis and vascular growth is a possible mechanism. We investigated the role of aortic mechanical alterations in a rat model of hypertension programming, evaluating changes at birth, weaning and adulthood. Dams were fed ad libitum (Control) or 50% of control intake during the second half of gestation (maternal undernutrition, MUN). Offspring aged 3 days, 21 days and 6 months were studied. Blood pressure was evaluated in vivo. In the thoracic aorta we assessed gross structure, mechanical properties (intact and purified elastin), collagen and elastin content and internal elastic lamina (IEL) organization. Only adult MUN males developed hypertension (systolic blood pressure: MUN = 176.6 ± 5.6 mmHg; Control = 136.1 ± 4.9 mmHg). At birth MUN rats were lighter, with smaller aortic cross-sectional area (MUN = (1.51 ± 0.08) × 10 μm , Control = (2.8 ± 0.04) × 10 μm ); during lactation MUN males and females exhibited catch-up growth and aortic hypertrophy (MUN = (14.5 ± 0.5) × 10 μm , Control = (10.4 ± 0.9) × 10 μm ), maintained until adulthood. MUN aortas were more compliant until weaning (functional stiffness: MUN = 1.0 ± 0.04; Control = 1.3 ± 0.03), containing less collagen with larger IEL fenestrae, returning to normal in adulthood. Purified elastin from young MUN offspring was more compliant in both sexes; only MUN adult females maintained larger elastin compliance (slope: MUN = 24.1 ± 1.9; Control = 33.3 ± 2.8). Fetal undernutrition induces deficient aortic development followed by hypertrophic remodelling and larger aortic compliance in the perinatal period, with similar alterations in collagen and elastin in both sexes. The observed alterations argue against an initial mechanical cause for sex differences in hypertension development. However, the maintenance of high elastin compliance in adult females might protect them against blood pressure rise.

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(1) The objective of our study is to determine, from a primary care midwife’s perspective, which biopsychosocial factors can favour or be detrimental to exclusive breast feeding. (2) The study was carried out in Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain) and is based on qualitative methodology. Twenty in-depth interviews were carried out with midwives working in primary care centres in Tenerife, using a content analysis approach. The transcript data was then encoded following an inductive approach. (3) According to the perceptions of the primary care midwives who were interviewed, the barriers and facilitators that influence exclusive breastfeeding related to the biopsychosocial spheres of women are, at an individual level, the physical and emotional aspects during the postnatal period; at the relationship level, the presence or not of support from the close family and partner; at the community level, the environment and social networks the new mothers may have; and at the work level, characteristics of jobs and early return to work. (4) The findings of our research can help healthcare professionals to approach the promotion and encouragement of exclusive breast feeding at each of the levels studied, with the aim of increasing rates following recommendations issued by The World Health Organization.

Twin pregnancies are increasing due to the rise in mothers’ childbearing age and have a higher risk of fetal growth restriction (FGR) and prematurity. Therefore, early prediction of these events is important. Our aim was to analyze in the first trimester of pregnancy a possible association between antioxidants, including melatonin, in maternal plasma and the development of fetal complications in twin pregnancies. A single-center, prospective, and observational study was performed in 104 twin-pregnant women. A blood sample was extracted between the 9th and the 11th week of gestation, and plasma was obtained. Antioxidants (thiols, reduced glutathione, phenolic compounds, catalase, superoxide dismutase) and oxidative damage biomarkers (carbonyl groups and malondialdehyde) were assessed by spectrophotometry, and global scores were calculated from these parameters (Antiox-S, Prooxy-S). Melatonin and cortisol were evaluated by a competitive immunoassay. In the first trimester of pregnancy, Antiox-S was significantly lower in women who developed FGR compared to those with normal fetal growth; plasma melatonin was significantly lower in women with preterm compared to those with full-term births and exhibited a positive correlation with birth weight. Maternal cortisol showed a negative correlation with birth weight. We conclude that, for twin gestations, maternal plasma antioxidant status and melatonin could be potential biomarkers to be included in algorithms to predict FGR and preterm labor.