Fruit and vegetable intake influences the association between exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and a marker of oxidative stress in pregnant women

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) during pregnancy is known to increase oxidative stress, which may influence pregnancy outcomes and health of the child. Subjects/Methods: This study investigated whether fruit and vegetable intake modifies the relationship between exposure to PAHs and oxidative stress status during pregnancy. Urinary levels of 2-naphthol and 1-hydroxypyrene (biomarkers of exposure to PAHs), and malondialdehyde (MDA; a biomarker of oxidative stress) were analyzed in 715 pregnant women at 12-28 weeks of gestation. The dietary antioxidant intake during pregnancy was estimated using the 24-h recall method. Urinary 2-naphthol, 1-hydroxypyrene and MDA levels were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography-fluorescence detection. Results: The urinary MDA level was positively correlated with the 2-naphthol level (r ¼ 0.255, Po0.001) and 1-hydroxypyrene level (r ¼ 0.240, Po0.001). Multiple regression analysis after adjustment for covariates revealed that the urinary 1-hydroxypyrene level was positively associated with the MDA level; these positive associations only existed in pregnant women, with either the fruit and vegetable intake or the vitamin C intake in the first tertile (o390.1 g/day) or in the first and second tertiles (o141.5 mg/day), respectively. Conclusions: These results suggest that an adequate maternal intake of fruit, vegetables and vitamin C is beneficial to the defense against the oxidative stress associated with exposure to PAHs in pregnant women.

Urinary Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Metabolite Associations with Biomarkers of Inflammation, Angiogenesis, and Oxidative Stress in Pregnant Women

“…Another study of 2-NAP and 1-PYR reported associations with increases in malondialdehyde, another biomarker of oxidative lipid peroxidation. 35 Additionally, a study using biomarkers in urine collected at delivery observed significant positive association between 1-PYR and 8-OHdG. 36 NY in the placenta has been associated with particulate matter and other air pollutants, 37 but to our knowledge this is the first study of urinary biomarkers of PAH exposure and these outcomes in humans.…”

“…35, 42–46 Urinary PAH metabolites reflect the internal dose from all recent exposure sources. Other studies of PAH exposure in pregnancy have examined PAH adducts in placenta, 47 indicative of the biologically effective dose in that tissue.…”

Impact of low-level gestational exposure to organophosphate pesticides on neurobehavior in early infancy: a prospective study

“…Reported maternal fruit and vegetable consumption during pregnancy has been linked with increased fetal growth [47] as well as protective effects against the development of specific brain tumors [48] and the incidence of retinoblastoma [49] in childhood. More specifically related to protection against environmental exposures are studies indicating that consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables containing vitamin C during pregnancy appear to protect against oxidative stress associated with exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons [50] and reduce the impact of air pollution on cognitive development in infants [51]. Nevertheless, when we attempted to adjust for dietary and SES factors in our multivariable models, there was no significant impact in nearly all instances.…”

Cotinine and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Levels in the Amniotic Fluid and Fetal Cord at Birth and in the Urine from Pregnant Smokers

“…We also found an increased fetal exposure to 1-hydroxypyrene, a known carcinogenic substance. The carcinogenic pathway for PAHs or their metabolites involves the production of reactive oxygen species, which generate oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, protein modifications, and DNA damage, and may influence birth outcomes and child health in later life [46] , [47] , [48] , [49] .…”