Fat-soluble vitamins and oxidative stress in neonates and mothers
- 11.07.2011
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- Redaktion
Current research
Daniela Weber, Tilman Grune, Nicolle Breusing, Hohenheim and Jena
Maintaining the balance between oxidants and antioxidants throughout the perinatal period and birth itself is a difficult task. Newborns are especially susceptible to oxidative stress, due to the immaturity of their antioxidant system, high metabolic rates, and low plasma antioxidant concentrations, as well as the elevated production of free radicals at birth.The mother’s antioxidant state influences the antioxidant state of the newborn and thus its risk for oxidative stress. Umbilical cord concentrations of retinol, the tocopherols, and the carotenoids are generally substantially lower in infants than in adults. Term infants and normal weight newborns can usually overcome physiological stress at birth. The situation becomes critical for pre-term and low birth weight newborns, as they are not adequately prepared for the oxygen-rich environment and are therefore more prone to oxidative stress. Further studies are needed to understand the effects of fat-soluble micronutrients, such as carotenoids, retinol, and tocopherols, on oxidative stress in the newborn.
Keywords: fat-soluble vitamins, oxidants, oxidative stress, newborns, pregnancy, birth, antioxidants
Sie finden den Artikel in deutscher Sprache in Ernährungs Umschau 07/11 ab Seite 354.
