Maternal Antioxidant Status in Early Pregnancy and Development of Fetal Complications in Twin Pregnancies: A Pilot Study

Abstract

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.

Multiple Micronutrients and Docosahexaenoic Acid Supplementation during Pregnancy: A Randomized Controlled Study

“…This is of relevance considering the vital roles of DHA in neurodevelopment, visual development, and neuroinflammation [56]. Moreover, pregnancy syndromes such as gestational diabetes and preeclampsia have also been associated with altered maternal omega-3 status and placental omega-3 metabolism [57][58][59].…”

Influence of Maternal Age and Gestational Age on Breast Milk Antioxidants During the First Month of Lactation

“…Reduced glutathione (GSH). GSH levels in breast milk were assessed by a fluorimetric method based on the o-phthalaldehyde reaction [ 27 ] adapted to a microplate reader [ 28 ]. Fluorescence was measured at 360 ± 40 nm excitation and 460 ± 40 nm emission in a microplate reader (Synergy HT Multimode; BioTek; Winooski, VT, USA).…”

“…Thiol levels in the sample was quantified using Ellman's reagent 5, 5-dithiobis-2-nitrobenzoic acid (DTNB) [27], adapted to a microplate reader [28]. The absorbance was measured at 412 nm and thiol levels was expressed as mM Reduced glutathione (GSH)/mL.…”

“…Catalase activity was assessed as previously described [28]. This method is based on the oxidation of the Amplex Red (Amplex ultra red reagent; Invitrogen, ThermoFisher, MA, USA) produced by hydrogen peroxide in the presence of horseradish peroxidase and the reduction of fluorescence by catalase present in the sample.…”

“…The levels of carbonylated proteins in BM were measured with the dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH)-based method [27], adapted to a microplate reader (Synergy HT Multimode; BioTek; Winooski, VT; USA), measuring absorbance at 370 nm as previously described [28]. The levels of carbonyl groups were determined using extinction coefficient of 2, 4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (ε = 22,000 M/cm) and were expressed as nmol/mL.…”