Oxidative Stress and Homocysteine in Non-Vitamin-Supplemented Vegetarian Pregnant and Pre-Eclamptic Women - A Pilot Study

Oxidative stress has been implicated in the aetio-pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia. At the same time, homocysteine (tHcy) is found to be offending factor for vascular pathology causing pre-eclampsia. Vitamin B₁₂, folic acid and homocysteine are metabolically closely related. On the other hand, peri-conceptional nutritional status influences the vitamin B₁₂&folic acid level which further affect the homocysteine level and thus may affect pregnancy outcome. Maternal nutrition is one of the chief factors leading to vitamin deficiency. Ahmedabad being a city predominantly inhabited by vegetarians, its population is at higher risk of vitamin B₁₂ deficiency. But no systematic study has been done in Ahmedabad to know whether Vit. B₁₂, folic acid and homocysteine levels influence pregnancy and also to study the effect of oxidative stress on homocysteine. To know this, a study was planned to know total homocysteine level and its correlation in pre-eclampsia and normotensive pregnant women and also to know its relation with oxidative stress. Vitamin B₁₂, folic acid and homocysteine were measured in all the subjects using fluorescence polarised immunoassay in AxSym Immunochemistry analyser in 60 non-vitamin-supplemented vegetarian pregnant women. Vitamin levels were within normal limits but on lower side of normalcy. Malondialdehyde (MDA) was measured by the method described by Randox and it was found positively correlated with pre-eclampsia. Homocysteine level was higher among pre-eclampsia patients. So it can be said that the oxidative stress affects homocysteine level which may further have an effect on pre-eclampsia. From the findings of the present study it can be concluded that measurement of these biochemical parameters in ante-natal care are useful for further management and prevention of complication of pregnancy like pre-eclampsia.