[The effect of tobacco smoking during pregnancy on concentration of malondialdehyde in blood of mothers and in umbilical cord blood].

OBJECTIVES: Maternal smoking during pregnancy is known to be associated with not only intrauterine fetal growth retardation or low birth weight but also causes disturbances in postnatal growth and development. The prime role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of adverse pregnancy outcomes is almost universally accepted.

DESIGN: The aim of the study was to estimate the effect of tobacco smoking during pregnancy on concentration of lipid peroxidation products (malondialdehyde - MDA) in blood of mother and newborns.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: 147 healthy, pregnant women were divided into non-smoking (n = 85) and smoking group (n = 62) according to questionnaire declaration and confirmed by cotinine concentration in serum and urine. Level of MDA was measured by fluorimetric method in plasma and in erythrocytes of mothers and umbilical cord blood.

RESULTS: We found that, in group of women smoking during pregnancy concentration of malondialdehyde was higher in plasma and in erythrocytes when compared to group of tobacco abstinent. Also in cord blood of newborns of smoking mothers level of MDA was significantly higher in plasma (p < 0.05) as well as in erythrocytes (p < 0.01) than in control group.

CONCLUSION: The presented results indicate that smoking during pregnancy may promotes free radical damage in growing fetus and newborns therefore stimulates metabolic disorders dependent on oxidative stress.