OBJECTIVES: To determine the levels of tocopherols, retinol and carotenoids in maternal and umbilical cord blood plasma and to investigate the relationships between them. DESIGN: Venous blood plasma concentrations of alpha, gamma and delta-tocopherol, retinol, lutein, lycopene, zeaxanthin, beta-cryptoxanthin, alpha and beta-carotene were determined by HPLC in healthy pregnant women and in pair-matched umbilical cords. Plasma levels of triglycerides and cholesterol were also measured. SUBJECTS: Sixty-six women, between 10 and 20 weeks gestation, were recruited randomly during their first antenatal appointment. From this group, 40 pair-matched umbilical cord blood samples were obtained. RESULTS: Tocopherols, retinol, carotenoids and lipids were present in significantly higher (P < 0.001) concentrations in maternal plasma than in cord plasma. There was a significant correlation (r = 0.45, P < 0.005) between maternal and cord levels of gamma-tocopherol, but not of alpha-tocopherol, retinol or carotenoids. Tocopherols and carotenoids were significantly correlated with each other (P < 0.05) in maternal and cord plasma. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma levels of tocopherols, carotenoids and lipids are substantially lower at birth than in adulthood. There is a clear relationship between gamma-tocopherol levels in maternal and cord plasma. The importance of gamma-tocopherol in human nutrition should be further investigated. There are no significant relationships between plasma alpha-tocopherol and carotenoids in pregnant mothers and cords. More research is needed to elucidate the maternal-foetal transfer of tocopherols and carotenoids, and to examine the impact of maternal antioxidant nutrient status on neonatal antioxidant capacity. It is important to determine if a low level of tocopherols and carotenoids at birth is a normal stage of human development or indicative of deficiency.
OBJECTIVES: To determine the levels of tocopherols, retinol and carotenoids in maternal and umbilical cord blood plasma and to investigate the relationships between them. DESIGN: Venous blood plasma concentrations of alpha, gamma and delta-tocopherol, retinol, lutein, lycopene, zeaxanthin, beta-cryptoxanthin, alpha and beta-carotene were determined by HPLC in healthy pregnant women and in pair-matched umbilical cords. Plasma levels of triglycerides and cholesterol were also measured. SUBJECTS: Sixty-six women, between 10 and 20 weeks gestation, were recruited randomly during their first antenatal appointment. From this group, 40 pair-matched umbilical cord blood samples were obtained. RESULTS:Tocopherols, retinol, carotenoids and lipids were present in significantly higher (P < 0.001) concentrations in maternal plasma than in cord plasma. There was a significant correlation (r = 0.45, P < 0.005) between maternal and cord levels of gamma-tocopherol, but not of alpha-tocopherol, retinol or carotenoids. Tocopherols and carotenoids were significantly correlated with each other (P < 0.05) in maternal and cord plasma. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma levels of tocopherols, carotenoids and lipids are substantially lower at birth than in adulthood. There is a clear relationship between gamma-tocopherol levels in maternal and cord plasma. The importance of gamma-tocopherol in human nutrition should be further investigated. There are no significant relationships between plasma alpha-tocopherol and carotenoids in pregnant mothers and cords. More research is needed to elucidate the maternal-foetal transfer of tocopherols and carotenoids, and to examine the impact of maternal antioxidant nutrient status on neonatal antioxidant capacity. It is important to determine if a low level of tocopherols and carotenoids at birth is a normal stage of human development or indicative of deficiency.
Authors: Bradley S Henriksen; Gary Chan; Robert O Hoffman; Mohsen Sharifzadeh; Igor V Ermakov; Werner Gellermann; Paul S Bernstein Journal: Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci Date: 2013-08-15 Impact factor: 4.799
Authors: Svetlana Didenco; Melanie B Gillingham; Mitzi D Go; Scott W Leonard; Maret G Traber; Cindy T McEvoy Journal: Am J Clin Nutr Date: 2010-12-15 Impact factor: 7.045
Authors: Edward F Bell; Nellie I Hansen; Luc P Brion; Richard A Ehrenkranz; Kathleen A Kennedy; Michele C Walsh; Seetha Shankaran; Michael J Acarregui; Karen J Johnson; Ellen C Hale; Lynn A Messina; Margaret M Crawford; Abbot R Laptook; Ronald N Goldberg; Krisa P Van Meurs; Waldemar A Carlo; Brenda B Poindexter; Roger G Faix; David P Carlton; Kristi L Watterberg; Dan L Ellsbury; Abhik Das; Rosemary D Higgins Journal: Pediatrics Date: 2013-11-11 Impact factor: 7.124
Authors: Elizabeth T Masters; Wieslaw Jedrychowski; Rosemary L Schleicher; Wei-Yann Tsai; Yi-Hsuan Tu; David Camann; Deliang Tang; Frederica P Perera Journal: Am J Clin Nutr Date: 2007-10 Impact factor: 7.045