Correlation between oxidative stress and antioxidant defence in South Indian urban vegetarians and non-vegetarians.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The diet is a key environmental factor implicated in health and disease. Oxidative stress, antioxidant status and their relation to diet is a subject of interest in recent years. The objective of the study was to compare lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status in healthy vegetarians and non-vegetarians. METHODS: The present study comprises 100 healthy individuals (50 vegetarians and 50 non-vegetarians) residing in Belgaum urban area. All the participants were in the age group of 40-60 years of both sexes. This cross-sectional study was done in one year period from April 2007 to March 2008. Malondialdehyde (MDA) (lipid peroxidation product) was estimated by thiobarbituric acid method, glutathione peroxidase by Beutler's method, Vitamin A and Vitamin E by Bessay et al and Quife et al methods respectively. RESULTS: Our study revealed that the blood MDA level was significantly increased (p value < 0.001) in non-vegetarians compared to lactovegetarians and lacto-ovo-vegetarians. There was significant decrease in the level of enzymatic antioxidant glutathione peroxidase and non-enzymatic antioxidants Vitamin A and Vitamin E in non-vegetarians compared to lactovegetarians and lacto-ovo-vegetarians (p value < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Results of this investigation present study indicate that there was an increased lipid peroxidation and a low antioxidant status in non-vegetarians compared to vegetarians. Vegetarian nutrition provides adequate antioxidants which effectively prevent free radicals generation.

Lipid peroxidation and antioxidant activity in complicated pregnancies.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: Preeclampsia and eclampsia are pregnancy complications with serious consequences for mother and infant. Uncontrolled lipid peroxidation may play an important role in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia and eclampsia by causing vascular endothelial cell dysfunction. Antioxidants serve to control lipid peroxidation. We attempted to ascertain whether antioxidant protective mechanisms are diminished in women with preeclampsia and eclampsia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Lipid peroxidation and antioxidant markers were assayed in 25 healthy non-pregnant women as a control group, 25 third trimester normal pregnant women, 25 preeclamptic and 25 eclamptic patients of the same trimester by standard spectrophotometer methods. RESULTS: In preeclampsia and eclampsia malondialdehyde, a product of lipid peroxidation, was significantly increased while enzymatic antioxidants like superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and catalase were significantly reduced as compared to normal pregnant women and non-pregnant controls. CONCLUSION: Lipid peroxidation is an important factor in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia and eclampsia. The decrease in antioxidants is probably due to a compensatory nature responding to the increased lipid peroxide load in preeclamptic and eclamptic patients and may indicate the severity of the disease.

Lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status in hypertensive pregnancies.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVE: The present study was designed to evaluate the lipid peroxidation and non-enzymatic antioxidant status in hypertensive complications during pregnancy (preeclamptic and eclamptic) compared with healthy pregnant and non-pregnant patients as controls. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 25 healthy non-pregnant women as controls, 25 third trimester normal pregnant women and 25 preeclamptic and 25 eclamptic patients of the same trimester. Lipid peroxidation as a thiobarbituric acid reactive substance reduced glutathione, Vitamin E, Vitamin C and Vitamin A. RESULTS: Lipid peroxidation was significantly elevated and significantly decreased levels of antioxidants were found in preeclamptic and eclamptic patients as compared with normal pregnant and control subjects. CONCLUSION: Our study gives support to those few studies considering lipid peroxidation as an important factor in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia and eclampsia. The decrease in antioxidants, probably of a compensatory nature responding to the increased peroxide load in preeclampsia and eclampsia, may reflect the severity of the disease.

Correlation between lipid peroxidation and non-enzymatic antioxidants in pregnancy induced hypertension.

The present study was designed to evaluate the lipid peroxidation and non-enzymatic antioxidants in pregnancyinduced hypertension (PIH) compared with healthy normal pregnant and non-pregnant as controls. 75 cases were studied of which 25 were normal healthy controls (Group A), 25 healthy pregnant women (Group B) of third trimester and 25 were PIH (Group C) of the same trimester. In PIH, malondialdehyde a lipid peroxidation product was significantly increased as compared to normal pregnant and non-pregnant controls. The nonenzymatic antioxidants like reduced glutathione, Vitamin-E, Vitamin-C and Vitamin-A were significantly decreased in normal pregnants as compared to controls. A further significant decrease was noticed in PIH compared to normal pregnants. A significant negative correlation was detected between lipid peroxidation and non-enzymatic antioxidant levels. Our study clearly indicates a relationship between elevated lipid peroxidation, decreased non-enzymatic antioxidant in PIH. The measurement of non-enzymatic antioxidants in plasma may be useful predictor of the likely development of PIH.

Role of lipid peroxidation and enzymatic antioxidants in pregnancy-induced hypertension.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: Preeclampsia remains a major cause of maternal mortality and morbidity. It is a leading indication for iatrogenic premature delivery. Oxidative stress is considered to be one of the factors in the disease process. The present study is centered on the concept that elevated levels of lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde) due to a decline in the efficacy of antioxidant defenses may predispose an individual to preeclampsia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In the present study we measured lipid peroxidation products (MDA) and the counteracting enzymatic antioxidants. The study comprises 25 healthy non-pregnant women as controls, 25 third trimester normal pregnant women and 25 preeclamptic patients of the same trimester. Estimation of lipid peroxidation by thiobarbituric acid (TBARS) and enzymatic antioxidants were carried out by standard methods. RESULTS: In the preeclamptic group malondialdehyde, a product of lipid peroxidation, was significantly increased while enzymatic antioxidants like superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase were reduced significantly as compared to normal pregnant and non-pregnant controls. CONCLUSION: Increased levels of lipid peroxides and reduced antioxidant activities clearly demonstrate the presence of oxidative stress in preeclampsia.

Study of oxidative stress and enzymatic antioxidants in normal pregnancy.

Pregnancy is a physiological state accompanied by a high-energy demand and an increased oxygen requirement. Augmented levels of oxidative stress would be expected because of the increased intake and utilization of oxygen. Evidence of increased oxidative stress in normal pregnancy in comparison with nonpregnant controls was estimated by measuring Thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS), enzymatic antioxidants like Superoxide dismutase, Glutathione peroxidase, Glutathione reductase and catalase. It was observed that pregnant women were more susceptible to oxidative damage than non-pregnants as indicated by increased TBARS and decreased antioxidants.