Relationship between alpha-tocopherol content in the different lipoprotein fractions in term pregnant women and in umbilical cord blood

AIMS: To determine the concentration of vitamin E in normal maternal and umbilical cord blood pairs, and to study the relationship between vitamin E content in maternal lipoprotein fractions and umbilical cord blood. METHODS: Fifty healthy pregnant women were recruited randomly at term and blood samples were drawn from the mothers at delivery and cord blood was obtained immediately postpartum. Vitamin E was determined by HPLC in plasma, in the different lipoprotein fractions and in the placenta. Plasma levels of triglycerides and cholesterol were also measured. RESULTS: The concentration of vitamin E in umbilical cord plasma was 250 microg/dl, lower than in maternal plasma (1,460 microg/dl) (p < 0.001). A positive correlation was found between the vitamin E concentration in maternal plasma, LDL and VLDL and in the umbilical cord plasma. In contrast, no correlation was found between maternal HDL concentration and umbilical cord blood. CONCLUSION: These results show that the concentration of vitamin E in umbilical cord blood is lower than in maternal plasma. LDL and VLDL seem to be the main source of vitamin E for the fetus.