<p class="first" id="d9924888e72">Preeclampsia is a hypertensive disorder in pregnant
women, which can be the leading
cause of maternal and neonatal death or premature birth. Although the cause of preeclampsia
is still not clear, local or systemic oxidative stress may explain the pathological
features associated with this complication. However, it is not clear whether oxidative
stress is the cause or the result of preeclampsia. For this purpose, the present meta-analysis
was intended to evaluate the oxidant and antioxidant status in women with preeclampsia.
Relevant studies were identified after a preliminary investigation of research articles
published up to September 2017. In the overall analysis, including 2953 cases and
3621 controls, a statistically significant reduction in total antioxidant capacity,
nitric oxide, superoxide dismutase, glutathione, vitamin E and C was observed in preeclampsia
women. On the other hand, a statistically significant increase in malondialdehyde,
protein carbonyl, total peroxide, glutathione peroxidase, catalase and uric acid were
observed in preeclampsia women. The increased products of oxidative stress, which
were found in the present meta-analysis might be an underlying mechanism for endothelial
dysfunction in preeclampsia. This meta-analysis provides a scientific support that
primary reduction of antioxidant capacity and increased levels of oxidative stress
products may induce a condition in which the pathways responsible for blood pressure
homeostasis are disrupted. In conclusion, it is hypothesized when oxidative stress
is established, a protective response is induced by increasing some antioxidants.
Further studies are warranted to investigate the role of dietary supplementation and
genetic variation in women with different ethnicity.
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