Parity-dependent changes in serum levels of some antioxidant micronutrients in rural areas of Eastern Nigeria

Objective: Wide range antioxidant micronutrients deficiencies during pregnancy have been reported in rural areas. This study was undertaken to determine if parity influences the serum levels of antioxidant micronutrients during subsequent pregnancy. Method: This is a cross-sectional study where pregnant women with varying number of previous pregnancies and attending routine antenatal visits for the first time in the current pregnancies were recruited for the study. The controls were age-matched, non-pregnant and non-menstruation women from the same environment and with similar dietary indices. Antioxidant vitamins (A, C, E) were determined by spectrophotometric methods while the trace elements (Cu, Mn, Se, Zn) were estimated using atomic absorption spectroscopy. Results: All vitamin antioxidants in different parity groups decreased significantly when compared with values obtained from control group. However, while vitamin A level had no correlation with parity, vitamin C level showed negative correlation and vitamin E level showed positive correlation with parity. On the other hand, all the antioxidant minerals showed positive correlations with parity. However, while copper level at only the first parity group was significantly lower than that of control, selenium and zinc levels at all the parity groups were significantly lower and manganese levels at all parity groups were significantly higher than that of control group. Conclusion: The results showed that parity can cause variations in the serum levels of these antioxidant micronutrients. We are of the opinion that there is absolute need for pre- and early pregnancy individualized assessment of antioxidant micronutrients status to determine the actual need for supplementation.