A Comparative Study of the Status of Oxidative Stress in Pregnant Nigerian Women

Normal pregnancy has been found to be associated with a high metabolic demand and elevated requirements for tissue oxygen which results in increased oxidative stress and antioxidant defenses. Hence this study evaluates in pregnancy the state of oxidative stress express by product of lipid peroxidation via the level of ThioBarbituric Acid-Reactive substances (TBARS). It involves 180 apparently healthy pregnant Nigerian women age between 20-40 years of different gestation period parity and socio status. In addition 20 apparently healthy tested non pregnant women formed the control group. The test groups were women attending ante-natal clinic at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) Benin City Edo state, Nigeria. Data from standard laboratory procedure were then subjected to statistical analysis using the paired sample t test of SPSS software version 17. Result shows increase in plasma TBARS as age advances and as the number of pregnancy increases. TBARS was lowest in women indulge in physical activity as in farm works (7.63.24 M) and highest among the physical inactivity as in full house-wife (16.286.69 M). A significant rise in TBARS in pregnant women (13.092.34 M) was observed compared to the non pregnant women (the control 4.410.50 M). There was a steady increase in TBARS as the gestation period advances and this was significantly different (p<0.05) from the control. Conclusively, normal pregnancy is associated with oxidative stress. We recommend therefore that there is a need for moderate physical activity during pregnancy and antioxidant supplementation which should increase as age, gestation and number of pregnancy (parity) advances.