Vitamin D Status Is Related to Oxidative Stress But Not High-Sensitive C-Reactive Protein in Women with Pre-Eclampsia

Background/aims: Pre-eclampsia (PE) is associated with unfavorable metabolic profiles. Oxidative stress and inflammation have been increasingly postulated as major contributors to PE. Research suggests that vitamin D status is disturbed in women with PE. The aims of this study were to compare the serum levels of vitamin D and oxidative stress status in women with PE vs. women with normal pregnancies, and to evaluate the relationship between these 2 factors in women with PE.

Methods: In this case-control study, 40 women with PE and 40 healthy pregnant women were selected, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels were assessed. We compared the biochemical indicators between the 2 groups by analysing the data using the independent t test, Mann-Whitney U test, chi-square and logistic regression.

Results: Compared with the controls, the serum levels of MDA in women with PE were significantly higher (p = 0.001) and TAC and 25(OH)D levels were significantly lower (p < 0.05). TAC concentration was positively associated with 25(OH)D levels in cases of PE (β = 0.428, p = 0.01).

Conclusion: Our findings show lower levels of TAC and 25(OH)D in women with PE in comparison to controls, while having similar vitamin D intakes. In addition, our results suggest a positive relationship between TAC concentration and 25(OH)D levels in PE cases.