A study published in 'Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism' demonstrated that the levels of vitamin A and E in a mother's bloodstream could serve as an early indicator of the antioxidant status of the newborn at the time of birth. Researchers set out to examine the link between vitamin A and E levels in expectant mothers during the middle of their pregnancies and how these levels might relate to the well-being of both the mother and the developing fetus.

Additionally, their goal was to uncover potential early indicators during pregnancy that could be used to forecast and mitigate oxidative stress in the offspring. Data concerning the dietary intake and blood levels of vitamins A and E were collected from a cohort of 544 expectant mothers who were part of the Nutrition in Early Life and Asthma (NELA), a prospective study centered on the well-being of both mothers and their offspring.

There were significant disparities observed between the low intake of vitamin E in the diet, which was prevalent among 78% of the mothers, and the low levels of vitamin E detected in their blood serum, which was seen in only 3% of them at 24 weeks of pregnancy. Maternal serum levels of vitamins A and E during mid-pregnancy were linked to elevated antioxidant levels, not only in the mothers at that stage (resulting in reduced hydroperoxide levels and elevated total antioxidant activity [TAA]), but also in their newborns at birth (resulting in greater TAA).

It was found that gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) had an adverse association with maternal serum vitamin A levels (Odds Ratio: 0.95) during mid-pregnancy. However, no discernible relationship was identified between GDM and parameters related to oxidative stress. Hence, maternal serum levels of vitamins A and E during mid-pregnancy serve as early potential biomarkers for assessing antioxidant status in neonates at birth. Monitoring and regulating these vitamin levels during pregnancy may be beneficial in preventing health issues in newborns related to oxidative stress in pregnancies affected by GDM.