Volume : IV, Issue : VI, June - 2015

A study of oxidative stress in pregnant anemic women in rural Rajasthan

Ashutosh Kumar, Dr Tariq Mahmood

Abstract :

 Abstract: Oxidative stress has been a source of great interest among researchers during the last decade and not without reason. Increased oxidative stress has been shown to be involved in the pathogenesis of a large number of disease processes directly or indirectly. Pregnancy favors a pro oxidant environment mainly due to the mitochondria rich placenta. Oxidative stress may not just be a threat to the mother but also to the growing fetus. Further anemia is also a pro oxidant condition and females in developing nations like India, suffer from mild to moderate anemia which further worsens during pregnancy. In rural female population this problem is more acute keeping in mind that their diet is deficient in a wide array of nutrients including iron. Material and Method: The objective of the study is to find a correlation between anemia and oxidative stress in pregnant females in rural Rajasthan. For this a study group of 25 pregnant anemic women and a control group of 25 pregnant non anemic women were chosen from the Obstetrics and Gynecology OPD of NIMS hospital, Jaipur. Blood samples were taken after obtaining informed consent. All relevant blood indices like, Hb%, PCV, MVC, MCH, MCHC were measured using a automated cell counter. FRAP aaay was done on the plasma sample of all the subjects and controls. Results: Showed a direct positive correlation (Pearson‘s co relation, R value= 0.44) between Hb% levels and Oxidative stress in the study as well as the control group. The study also showed a significant correlation (p< 0.05) between existence of anemia and a decreased ferric reducing ability of plasma. Conclusion: Anemia in pregnancy shifts the oxidant–anti oxidant balance towards the oxidant spectrum resulting in a significant decrease in antioxidant activity in plasma of such females. This adds to the already existing pro oxidant environment caused by the pregnancy. With oxidative stress already implicated in maternal and fetal complication in the outcome of pregnancy this increase is significant and calls for further evaluation.

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Article: Download PDF   DOI : 10.36106/ijsr  

Cite This Article:

Ashutosh Kumar, Dr Tariq Mahmood A Study of Oxidative Stress in Pregnant Anemic Women in Rural Rajasthan International Journal of Scientific Research, Vol : 4, Issue : 6 June 2015

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