Oxidative stress associated with altered activity of glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase enzymes with IDA during pregnancy

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) during pregnancy, although associated with disturbances of hematological parameters, is now also considered as a source of oxidative stress (OS). Present study aims to detect any alteration in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) enzymes activity in pregnant women with IDA. Levels of GSH-Px and SOD were measured in 156 anemic, pregnant women and compared with similar levels in 20 non anemic, pregnant women. Activity of SOD was found to be reduced in the anemic group when compared with the control group. We found a non- significant increase in GSH-Px activities in the anemic group. These findings could be explained in terms of OS under hypoxic condition which preserves the activity of GSH-Px with a decrease activity of SOD. A positive association was seen between IDA during pregnancy and OS with results suggesting that, apart from the deficiency of iron, some other factors are also associated for the increased OS seen during pregnancy.