Alpha-tocopherol and MDA levels in women with spontaneous abortion and normal pregnancy

Abstract

There is growing evidence on the role of oxidative stress in different conditions of pathological pregnancy. The aim of the present study was to evaluate serum alpha-tocopherol (TP) as an indicator of the antioxidant defense and malondialdehyde (MDA) as a marker of lipid peroxidation in women with spontaneous abortion. The study comprised two groups: 14 women with spontaneous abortion (m.l. I-III) and 18 pregnant women having their normal pregnancy terminated (controls). MDA and TP were assayed in blood serum spectrophotometrically and by HPLC, respectively. A significant increase in MDA levels was found in women with spontaneous abortion. This is in agreement with the supposedly enhanced lipid peroxidation, which may contribute to early pregnancy loss. No significant difference in levels of TP was found between the studied groups. It is possible that vitamin E alone is not a reliable marker of the antioxidant potential of the organism in the case of spontaneous abortion.