A collaborative research effort led by Stephanie Eick, PhD, MPH of Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health and Rachel Morello-Frosch PhD, MPH of the University of California, Berkeley investigated the relationship between various biological, behavioral, and social factors and higher levels of oxidative stress in pregnant women, which is often associated with poor prenatal health outcomes. Pregnant participants who were 30+ years old and had a college degree had lower levels of oxidative stress. In contrast, levels of oxidative stress were higher among pregnant participants who were overweight or obese, or unmarried. Levels of oxidative stress biomarkers were also higher among pregnant participants who were current smokers or had less than a high school education.
This research, titled “Associations between social, biologic, and behavioral factors and biomarkers of oxidative stress during pregnancy: Findings from four ECHO cohorts,” is published in Science of the Total Environment.
To measure oxidative stress, the researchers collected urine samples from approximately 2,000 pregnant participants in the mainland United States and Puerto Rico who were enrolled in one of four ECHO cohorts. They measured the levels of oxidative stress biomarkers at up to three time points during pregnancy and calculated the association between biomarker levels and biological, behavioral, and social factors. Maternal age, pre-pregnancy body mass index, marital/partnered status, parity, and smoking status were included as biological and behavioral factors while race/ethnicity, maternal education, and stressful life events were considered social factors.
“This is the largest study to date to examine the relationship between biologic, social, and behavioral factors and oxidative stress during pregnancy,” said Dr. Eick. “Our results provide important clues into how social and economic inequalities lead to poor health in pregnant women.” This study may also inform future studies looking at risk factors for preterm birth.
As for ongoing research, the team is examining the impact of oxidative stress on adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as preterm birth.