The Paraoxonase 1 Arylesterase Activity, Total Oxidative Stress, Nitric Oxide and Vitamin C Levels in Maternal Serum, and Their Relation to Birth Weight of Newborn

Aim of this study is to find out clinical relevance of estimating PON1 arylesterase activity, total oxidative stress (TOS), nitric oxide (NO), and vitamin C levels in maternal serum for prediction of birth weight of newborn.

We have investigated the PON1 arylesterase activity, TOS, NO, vitamin C, total protein, and albumin levels in 56 postnatal clinic patients having newborn weighing <2500 gm (low birth weight) and compared with 56 postnatal clinic patients having newborn weighing >2500 gm. Samples were collected immediately after delivery.

PON1 arylesterase activity levels show significant decrease in cases as compared to controls (93.27 ± 13.76 kU/l vs. 112.77 ± 9.42 kU/l). Nitric oxide (nitrate + nitrite) levels are also found to be significantly decreased in cases with respect to controls (22.89 ± 2.65 umol/l vs. 24.73 ± 3.80 umol/l). Total oxidative stress is significantly increased in cases than in control subjects (23.34 ± 2.64 μmol H₂O₂ equiv./l vs. ± 21.43 ± 2.47 μmol H₂O₂ equiv/l). Vitamin C levels are also significantly decreased in cases as compared to controls (1.23 ± 0.25 mg/dl vs. 1.34 ± 0.28 mg/dl). Positive correlation between neonatal birth weight and maternal serum PON1 arylesterase activity (r = 0.682, p < 0.05) while negative correlation is obtained between neonatal birth weight and maternal serum oxidative stress (r = −0.478, p < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis is applied for assessing predictive utility which demonstrated a significant association of birth weight with PON1 arylesterase activity (AUC = 0.960, Naglekerke’s R ² = 0.793, p < 0.05)

Decreased arylesterase activity and antioxidant vitamin C levels with increased total oxidative stress in maternal serum may be considered as the additional risk factors for the development of low birth weight newborn.