Serum paraoxonase and arylesterase activities throughout normal pregnancy

Abstract

Objective: Pregnancy is characterized with hyperlipidemia and mild oxidative stress. Paraoxonase1 is an antioxidant enzyme which is also suggested to be involved in lipoprotein metabolism. Our aim was to investigate serum paraoxonase and arylesterase activities and their relation with the lipid profile and oxidative-antioxidative system parameters throughout normal pregnancy.

Material and Method: Seventeen healthy pregnant women and 17 age-matched non-pregnant controls were included in the study. Serum paraoxonase and arylesterase activities were determined spectrophotometrically. Plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) level was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. Serum total antioxidant capacity (TAOC), red blood cell superoxide dismutase and whole blood glutathione peroxidase activities were measured by commercial hits. Lipid profile was studied by routine biochemical methods.

Results: There were not any significant differences in either serum paraoxonase or arylesterase activities between the three trimester values and between each trimester level and non-pregnant group. Plasma MDA levels obtained in each trimester were significantly higher than those of the non-pregnant control group, however there were not any significant differences among the three trimesters. TAOC value of the pregnant groups increased significantly throughout pregnancy. However, TAOC levels were significantly lower in each trimester compared with the non-pregnant group. Triglyceride and total cholesterol levels increased throughout pregnancy.

Triglyceride and total cholesterol levels obtained at each trimester were significantly higher than those of the nonpregnant group.

Conclusion: The results of the present study demonstrated hyperlipidemia and oxidative stress in normal pregnancy, however failed to show any effects of paraoxonase 1 on lipoprotein metabolism or oxidative-antioxidative system parameters in pregnancy.