Oxidative stress in term small for gestational age neonates born to undernourished mothers: a case control study

Abstract

Abstract Background The objective of this study was to assess the status of oxidative stress in term small for gestational age (SGA) newborn infants born to undernourished mothers by estimating levels of erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, reduced glutathione, and serum malondialdehyde (MDA) in cord blood and comparing them to healthy appropriate for gestational age (AGA) controls. This was done in a case control design at a tertiary level teaching hospital. Methods We included 20 singleton healthy SGA newborn infants born between 38–40 weeks to undernourished mothers with a) post-pregnancy weight Results The activity of MDA was increased (5.33 ± 0.72 vs 2.55 ± 0.22 nmol/mL; P vs. 786.8 ± 79.1 U/g Hb; P vs. 2.31 ± 0.20 U/g Hb; P vs 6.42 ± 0.23 Umol/g Hb, P P Conclusions Intrauterine malnutrition is associated with significant oxidative stress in small for gestational age neonates born at term to malnourished mothers.