IMPACT OF IRON AND FOLIC ACID SUPPLEMENTATION ON OXIDATIVE STRESS DURING PREGNANCY

    AIM   • To  assess  serum  Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) and impact of supplements on oxidative stress  (OS) during pregnancy.   INTRODUCTION Ø As  placenta matures, it changes from a hypoxic environment to an oxygen-rich environment. Ø This  favours the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which increases free iron concentration ( Liochevand Friedovich 1997). Ø Nitric oxide is also locally produced by the placenta ( Dotsch et al. 2001), and together with other reactive nitrogen species it contributes to the potential OS in the presence of transitional metals. Ø Macrophages infiltrate the placenta resulting in the production of free radicals, including reactive chlorine species.    Preeclampsia is a perinatal disorder related to the OS taking place in the placenta. placental ischaemia results in OS characterised by an increase in levels of superoxide and lipid pe...