Metabolic changes, hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis and oxidative stress after short-term starvation in healthy pregnant women

AIM: To compare metabolic effects and oxidative stress in pregnant and non-pregnant women after 12 h of fasting. METHODS: Twenty-six healthy women with uncomplicated singleton pregnancies between the 24(th) and 28(th) gestational week were recruited. After an overnight fast, venous blood samples and urine samples were tested for metabolic parameters characteristic for starvation, cortisol and oxidative stress products. Healthy non-pregnant women matched by age, body mass index and length of fasting comprised the control group. RESULTS: The metabolic parameters beta-hydroxybutyrate and free fatty acids in blood and ketones in urine showed no differences in pregnant and non-pregnant women. However, the oxidative stress parameters, 8,12-iso-iPF(2alpha)-VI, isoprostanes and malondialdehyde were significantly higher in pregnant subjects, as was cortisol. CONCLUSION: Healthy pregnant women are exposed to oxidative stress and activation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis, but not to metabolic changes resembling starvation during short fasting periods in comparison to non-pregnant healthy women.