Lipid Profile and Some Parameters of Lipid Peroxidation in Pregnancy Trimesters

Abstract

Pregnancy is known to create profound metabolic, hormonal, and physiological changes in the body. Lipid profile and some parameters associated with lipid peroxidation play crucial roles in the sustenance of pregnancy and delivery. The biochemical changes resulting from pregnancy could be physiological or pathological depending on the parameter’s concentration and other ancillary considerations. This study was therefore intended to evaluate lipid profiles and lipid peroxidation parameters in the three trimesters of pregnancy. The study population comprised one hundred women equally divided into pregnant and non-pregnant groups. One half made up of 50 pregnant women was monitored from the first to third trimester of pregnancy while the other half of 50 non-pregnant women were controls. Blood samples were collected into plain tubes after an overnight fast by venepuncture and thereafter standard biochemical procedures for lipid profile and lipid peroxidation parameters were done. The result revealed a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in serum cholesterol, triacylglycerol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase, and catalase concentrations, whereas high-density lipoprotein, very LDL, and malondialdehyde exhibited a significant increase (P < 0.05) when compared to the controls and within trimesters multiple comparisons using one-way analysis of variance (post hoc-least significant difference). Conclusively, the alterations in serum lipid profiles and lipid peroxidation parameters are pointers to the predisposition of pregnancy to lipid dysfunction and oxidative stress phenomenon. Hence monitoring of these parameters during pregnancy is apt.