Concentrations of tocopherols and carotenoids in maternal and cord blood plasma

• Published in: European journal of clinical nutrition Vol. 53; no. 9; pp. 711 - 715
• Main Authors: Kiely, M, Cogan, P.F, Kearney, P.J, Morrissey, P.A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basingstoke Nature Publishing 01.09.1999; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; alpha-carotene; alpha-tocopherol; Antioxidants; Babies; beta-carotene; beta-cryptoxanthin; Biological and medical sciences; Birth; blood lipids; Blood plasma; Carotene; Carotenoids; Carotenoids - blood; Cholesterol; Cholesterol - blood; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Cord blood; delta-tocopherol; Female; Fetal Blood - chemistry; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; gamma-tocopherol; Gestational Age; High-performance liquid chromatography; Human nutrition; Humans; Lipids; Liquid chromatography; Low level; Lutein; Lycopene; Mother. Fetoplacental unit. Mammary gland. Milk; Mothers; Neonates; Newborn babies; nutrient requirements; Nutrient status; Nutrition; nutritional status; Plasma; Plasma levels; Pregnancy; Pregnancy - blood; Pregnancy. Parturition. Lactation; Tocopherol; Tocopherols; triacylglycerols; Triglycerides; Triglycerides - blood; Umbilical cord; umbilicus; Vertebrates: reproduction; Vitamin A; Vitamin E; Vitamin E - blood; Vitamins; women; Zeaxanthin; β-Carotene; Europe; Ireland; Human; Cholesterolemia; Blood plasma; Pregnancy; Newborn; Mother; Adult; Umbilical cord; Tocopherol; Carotenoid; Nutritional status; Comparative study; Triglyceridemia
• ISSN: 0954-3007; 1476-5640
• DOI: 10.1038/sj.ejcn.1600838

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.