Ferrous iron administration during pregnancy and adaptational oxidative stress (Pilot study)

Aune Rehema, Kersti Zilmer, Ursula Klaar¹, Helle Karro¹, Tiiu Kullisaar, Mihkel Zilmer

Department of Biochemistry, Tartu University, ¹Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tartu University Clinics, Estonia

Key words: iron, anemia, pregnancy, oxidative stress, glutathione.

Summary. The purpose of this investigation was to measure the effect of ferrous iron therapy on indices of oxidative stress in pregnant women. Material and methods. Nineteen healthy pregnant women with borderline anemia were subjected to per oral ferrous iron in prophylactic doses (36 mg daily, +Fe group, n=13) or did not get any treatment (-Fe group, n=6). The indices measured in two time-points were: conjugated dienes, lag phase of low-density lipoproteins, total antioxidant activity of the serum, total glutathione and its fractions, protein carbonyls, catalase, ferritin, serum iron and unsaturated iron binding capacity. Results. All women had high values of conjugated dienes, total antioxidant activity and short lag phases of low-density lipoproteins in both time points. Elevated values of oxidized glutathione in both groups increased about 2-fold and reached a significant difference level (p=0.02) by the end of the test period. Conclusion. Low doses of per oral ferrous iron did not change deleteriously the physiological pattern of parameters of oxidative stress in our small group of healthy pregnant non-smokers but the elevation of oxidized glutathione might imply on the elevation of risk.

Correspondence to A. Rehema, Department of Biochemistry, Tartu University, Ravila street 19, 51014 Tartu, Estonia. E-mail: aune10@hotmail.com

Received 16 January 2004, accepted 22 April 2004