Saudi Journal of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences (SJMPS)
Volume-2 | Issue-04 | 72-75
Original Research Article
Assessment of Total Antioxidant Capacity and Lipid Profile among Pregnant Women Attending Ante Natal Clinic in University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Nigeria
Ogar Francis Awusha, Agu Chidozie Elochukwu, Inaku Kenneth Ogar, Nsonwu Augusta, Etukudo Maisie
Published : April 25, 2016
Abstract
Normal pregnancy is associated withchanges in lipid metabolism and high metabolic demand accompanied by elevated tissue oxygen requirements and increased oxidative stress. The present study was carried outto evaluate lipid profile and total antioxidant status in pregnant women at UCTH, Calabar, Nigeria. Serum lipid profile and total antioxidant capacity were estimated in ninety (90) apparently healthy pregnant women aged between 18 and 40 years and thirty non-pregnant controls. Test subjects were divided into three trimesters based on their gestational age. Blood samples were collected from all recruited participants; total antioxidant capacity and lipid profile were analyzed using colorimetric methods. Lipid profile parameters and TAC varied among the various trimesters of pregnancy and in the controls (P<0.05). Controls had significantly higher mean values of TAC compared to the 2nd and 3rd-trimester group (P<0.05). The first trimesters group had higher TAC and lower mean total cholesterol and LDL-C compared to the 2nd and 3rd-trimester group (P<0.05). Third-trimester group recorded higher mean value of TG compared to the 1st trimester and control group (P<0.05). Pregnancy and increasing gestational age may be associated with decreased total antioxidant capacity and increased TC, LDL-C and TG