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Evaluation of Low Blood Lead Levels and Its Association with Oxidative Stress in Pregnant Anemic Women: A Comparative Prospective Study

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Abstract

To correlate blood lead levels (BLLs) and oxidative stress parameters in pregnant anemic women. A total of 175 pregnant women were found suitable and included for this study. Following WHO criteria, 50 each were identified as non-anemic, mild anemic and moderate anemic and 25 were severe anemic. The age of all study subjects ranged from 24–41 years. At admission, BLLs and oxidative stress parameters were estimated as per standard protocols and subjected with ANOVA, Pearson correlation analysis and cluster analysis. Results showed significantly (p < 0.01) high BLLs, zinc protoporphyrin (ZPP), oxidized glutathione (GSSG), lipid peroxide (LPO) levels while low delta aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (δ-ALAD), iron (Fe), selenium (Se), zinc (Zn), haemoglobin (Hb), haematocrit (Hct), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), red blood cell (RBC) count, reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in all groups of anemic pregnant women as compared with non anemic pregnant women. In all groups of pregnant women, BLLs showed significant (p < 0.01) and direct association with ZPP, GSSG and LPO while inverse relation with δ-ALAD, Fe, Se, Zn, Hb, Hct, MCV, MCH, MCHC, RBC, GSH, SOD, CAT and TAC. Study concluded that low BLLs perturb oxidant-antioxidant balance and negatively affected hematological parameters which may eventually Pb to Fe deficiency anemia during pregnancy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Referral Centre For Lead Poisoning, UP, Department of Biochemistry, C.S.M. Medical University, Lucknow, 226003, India

    Amit Kumar Mani Tiwari & Abbas Ali Mahdi

  2. Department of Obstetric & Gynecology, ELMC & Hospital, Lucknow, India

    Fatima Zahra

  3. Department of Biochemistry, Bundelkhand University, Jhansi, India

    Sudarshna Sharma

  4. Institute for Data Computing and Training, Jankipuram, Lucknow, India

    Mahendra Pal Singh Negi

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  1. Amit Kumar Mani Tiwari
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  2. Abbas Ali Mahdi
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  4. Sudarshna Sharma
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  5. Mahendra Pal Singh Negi
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Correspondence to Abbas Ali Mahdi.

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Tiwari, A.K.M., Mahdi, A.A., Zahra, F. et al. Evaluation of Low Blood Lead Levels and Its Association with Oxidative Stress in Pregnant Anemic Women: A Comparative Prospective Study. Ind J Clin Biochem 27, 246–252 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12291-012-0202-2

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