Study Links Antioxidant Selenium And Copper To Foetal Growth
Antioxidants are known to be vital to supporting life, one recently published study emphasises the importance of maintaining adequate antioxidant levels, especially during pregnancy. There are many studies that have looked into how supplements influence the development of babies or foetuses.
Most studies come to the conclusion that multivitamins positively influence the reproductive fate or outcome of a baby. A lot of this is dose dependent. More than one third of child deaths are attributed to maternal under nutrition. The entire spectrum of vitamins and micronutrients are needed for optimal development. However, supplements that contain calcium and folic acid are thought to have a big influence on the optimal development of a foetus. Vitamin D is also thought to have an important influence on foetal development.
This study is unique in that it has measured specific markers of development from the fluid that the baby develops in. It is the first study of its kind, tracking minerals with foetal development. They also tracked antioxidant status, which is also very unique. Higher levels of oxidative stress in pregnancy is linked to miscarriages, premature birth and lower birth weights. Similar studies to this indicated that antioxidant sufficiency during pregnancy positively influenced cranial size and also foetal weight.
This is why tracking antioxidant levels is pregnancy is important, as they could indicate healthy foetal growth. Because of how invasive foetal growth is, oxidative stress is naturally going to be heightened in a pregnant woman. Lets take a look at what this study found and how it is relevant to what we know about nutrition during pregnancy.
How Minerals And Antioxidants May Effect Foetal Growth
This particular study looked to test how antioxidants in over-the-counter multivitamin and mineral supplements could influence the growth of an unborn baby at different pregnancy stages. This unique study measured the influence of particular minerals and trace elements, noting how the influenced key measurements of foetal or unborn baby development through the duration of pregnancy.
The amniotic fluid, or liquid that a baby develops in, of the 176 pregnant women who took part in this particular study was tested for antioxidant power, oxidative stress and trace mineral content. These were then tested against the key growth measurements.
Some of the measurements that were thought to be influenced by vitamin and mineral supplementation included head circumference, leg bone lengths and estimated weight. These measurements were taken from ultrasound studies, where a gel is used to sonically detect structures inside bodily tissues.
Minerals And Foetal Growth
In early pregnancy, about 18 weeks, minerals such as copper and selenium were considered to significantly influence most of the key measurements of foetal development.
Copper is an essential mineral for the development of nerve cells and is also an important catalyst in many metabolic reactions. Inadequate copper stores can be life threatening. Mineral selenium in the form of selenoproteins is thought to be one of the most important antioxidants in the body, contributing to glutathione levels and normal heart health. Both of these minerals have big influences on metabolic rate. Selenium in particular was identified by this study to support reductions in oxidative stress during pregnancy.
It is therefore no surprise that these two minerals have such a huge influence on unborn baby development. While these are thought to be influencing minerals on the development of new tissues in unborn babies, this study emphasises how important these minerals might be throughout human development into adulthood as well.
Foetal Development And Antioxidant Status
Antioxidants are important throughout life because they prevent redox damage to important cell structures from free radicals, support cell homeostasis and as a result influence optimal growth. Higher antioxidant status in a pregnant woman should indicate that both mother and child are under less oxidative stress. This should be of benefit to the optimal development of an unborn child. These are the findings of many other clinical studies.
In this particular study, total antioxidant capacity or ability was seen to be associated with reduced estimated foetal weight. The study also found a reduction in bone length measurements.
This is interesting, suggesting that higher oxidative stress in the mid-gestation stage of pregnancy is linked to foetal growth. Naturally, as growth happens there is going to be higher levels of oxidative stress. Clinical studies monitoring oxidative stress during pregnancy have come to this conclusion.
This might explain why higher antioxidant ability was linked to a lower overall growth rate. This would then suggest there was healthier growth in the babies that had higher oxidative stress. Conversely, excessive foetal growth might be linked to a higher risk of maternal death in natural births. This might also indicate that antioxidant levels need to be improved throughout pregnancy to support optimal overall wellbeing of the foetus and mother. This would support the findings of other studies, that showed how higher foetal weights were linked to better antioxidant capacity and better infant survival rates from pregnancy.
Redox Metals, Oxidation Status And Metabolism
Another big indicator of oxidative stress found that the oxidative stress levels increased with increased levels of calcium, copper, magnesium, iron and zinc in the amniotic fluid. These minerals have roles in inflammation and oxidative stress.
Higher levels of redox-active metals are linked to higher oxidation levels. This could be because of higher metabolic rates. The researchers concluded that this is why this effect was seen. That also would mean these mothers could benefit from higher levels of antioxidants.
The Effects Of Mineral Toxins On Foetal Birth Weight
The study found a massive negative association between levels of arsenic and foetal weight, suggesting this is a toxin that should be avoided in pregnancy. Other studies have found this sort of relationship with toxic metals including nickel.
Some known potential environmental toxins are lead, cadmium and mercury. These are all thought to be risk factors for adverse effects on pregnant women and a developing baby. Some effects of these metal toxins include reduce birth weight, head and chest circumferences. Metal toxins like lead have a really detrimental effect on the brain and can cause serious brain dysfunction and cognitive decline. For example, lead can disrupt the blood brain barrier. This is very important in the optimal development of the brain, as it prevents toxins from entering the brain.
Another issue this study found was over supplementation with iron during pregnancy. They thought that excess iron might lead to excessive oxidative damage and the disruption of the absorption of other minerals. Minerals like zinc and chromium are very influential on development. Excess iron might then be detrimental to the optimal development of a foetus in pregnancy, having mild toxic effects.
Summary
Antioxidants and trace minerals are known to be vital to supporting life. The study we have covered here is unique in that it monitored the effects of these with different markers of foetal development throughout pregnancy.
Higher oxidative stress in pregnancy is linked to miscarriages. Other studies have indicated that antioxidant sufficiency during pregnancy positively influenced cranial size and also foetal weight.
Minerals such as copper and selenium were considered to significantly influence most of the key measurements of foetal development. Selenium is a strong antioxidant and supports reductions in oxidative stress during pregnancy. Copper is also essential in the optimal development of nerve cells and the brain. This study emphasizes how important these minerals are for optimal growth and development.
This study found a difference compared to others, suggesting antioxidant status was negatively linked to foetal growth markers. We would consider this as being a normal part of metabolic growth, as indicated by other studies. This may also indicate that mothers need to support themselves with higher levels of antioxidants than previously thought.
The authors alluded to this. They suggested that higher levels of certain minerals may have contributed to a higher oxidative stress level including copper, magnesium and iron. Higher levels of redox-active metals are linked to higher oxidation levels. They also think that the iron content may have been a bit high and may have contributed to oxidative stress.
This study also identified and highlighted the toxicity of mineral arsenal and nickel. Some detrimental effects of metal toxins include reduce birth weight and head circumferences.
Overall, this study highlighted the importance of mineral copper and selenium, while pointing out the toxicity of mineral arsenic and nickel for developing foetuses.
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