Science Corner

Hypertension Linked to Increased Oxidative Stress in Pregnant Women: Possible Role of Antioxidants

In a study involving 46 hypertensive (31 pre-eclamptic and 15 chronic hypertensive) and 60 normotensive pregnant women, total antioxidant capacity and sulphydryl concentrations were significantly lower (in maternal blood plasma, cord blood plasma, maternal milk) in the hypertensive women, and total peroxide and oxidative stress index were significantly higher, as compared to levels found in the normotensive women, suggesting an association between hypertension and oxidative stress, during pregnancy, and furthermore, these results show that oxidative stress may be transmitted to the newborn via maternal milk. The authors conclude, “supplementation with antioxidants could, in view of our findings, possibly provide protection to the mother and fetus and also, through transmission in maternal milk, to the newborn.”

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