Research Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology1994-79252077-222XAsian Network for Scientific Information10.3923/rjog.2008.30.33UbohF.E. EbongP.E. OtonE. ItamI.H. BarnabyN. 1200811The status of antioxidant vitamins (vitamins A, C and
β-carotene) and free radical (malonyl dialdehyde) were determined
in 100 pre-eclamptic and 100 normotensive pregnant women from the 24th
week of pregnancy and 100 normotensive non pregnant Nigerian women. The
mean values of these antioxidant vitamins were significantly lower (p<0.05)
in the pre-eclamptic, compared with the normotensive pregnant and normotensive
non-pregnant women respectively. The free radical level, on the contrary,
was significantly higher (p<0.05) in the pre-eclamptic, compared to
the normotensive pregnant and normotensive non-pregnant women respectively.
However, the levels of these indices in both the normotensive pregnant
and normotensive non-pregnant groups were within a very close range and
the difference between the two groups were not significant (p>0.05).
These results suggest that increase in the free radicals and decrease
in the antioxidant vitamins concentrations are characteristic features
of pre-eclamptic pregnancy. The specific point in pregnancy course that
the free radical starts to rise and the antioxidant vitamins begin to
decrease is a subject of further study.]]>Bellamy, L., J.P. Casas, A.D. Hingorani and D.J. Williams,2007335974974Bessey, O.A., O.H. Lowry, M.J. Brock and T.A. Lopez,1946166177189Brown, M.A. and M.L. Buddle,1996165360365Bucttner, G.A.,1993300535543Calder, A.A. and W. Dunlop,19951st Edn.,pp: 310-316pp: 310-316Chew, B.P.,199512518041808Conde-Agudelo, A., J. Villar and M. Lindheimer,2008198722Cunningham, F.G. and M.D. Lindheimer,1992326927932Lawoyin, T. and F. Ani,199673404406Mayes, P.A.,19901990pp: 234-248pp: 234-248Moodley, J.,199351014Redman, C.W.G. and J.M. Roberts,199354114511454Rumley, A.G. and J.R. Paterson,199835181200Scharffert, R.R. and G.R. Kingsley,19952125968Seydoux, J., E.G.L. Paunier and F. Belgium,199099207211Sharpe, P., C. Muholland and T. Trinnik,19941994Sibai, B., G. Dekker and M. Kupferminc,2005365785799Sibai, B., T. Gordon, E. Thorn, S.N. Caritis, M. Klebanoff, D. McNellis and R.H. Paul,199572642648Sies, H. and N.I. Krinsky,199562283293Wagner, L.K.,20047023172324Walsh, S.W. and Y. Wang,199316914621466