1.1 General It is agreed by all physicians that preterm labor is comprised of regular uterine contractions, usually <5 minutes apart, that results in cervical change occurring before the 37th week of pregnancy. (Elliott, 2011) Often times, preterm labor can be successfully treated with tocolytic drugs, but when such treatment results in early delivery particularly (<32 weeks) it is devastating for the family, the physician, and society in general. According to statistics in the United States preterm birth occurred in 12.6% of deliveries in 2007. (Goldenberg, 2008) Indeed, up to 75% of all perinatal mortality and half of the neurologic disadvantaged children can be traced to simply delivering before term. Adequate nutritional status of women before becoming pregnant, during the pregnancy, and after delivery, reduces adverse outcomes for both mother and baby. (Kontic & Vucinic, 2006) The absence of appropriate micronutrients lead to maternal complications such as preterm labor (PTL), iron deficiency anemia, preterm premature rupture of the membranes (PPROM), preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), as well as small for gestational (SGA) infants, and congenital malformations. (Scholl, 2008) Oxidative stress has been implicated in the development and pathogenesis of a number of diseases in neonates and especially those delivered prematurely. Newborns, and in particular preterm neonates, have less protection against and are very susceptible to free radical oxidative damage. (Saugstad, 2003) Good nutrition is vital to the health of the mother and baby. Unfortunately, the typical American diet exceeds the recommended daily allowance of meat, grains, and fats by approximately 20% and is as much as 40-60% deficient in dairy, fruit, and vegetables. (Kaiser & Allen, 2002). Pregnancy involves rapidly dividing cells, not only in the fetus, newborn and placenta, but also in the maternal compartment (such as red cell mass and the growing uterus). Pregnancy is one state where there is almost certainly a need for additional antioxidants to combat this stress. (Kaiser & Allen, 2002) Oxidative stress
Oxidative Stress and Antioxidants: Preterm Birth and Preterm Infants
R. Knuppel,Mohamed I. Hassan,J. McDermott,J. Tucker,J. Morrison
Published 2012 in Unknown venue
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2012
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Unknown venue
- Publication date
2012-01-27
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Medicine, Environmental Science
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