Fetal coenzyme Q10 deficiency in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy

Abstract

Aim: Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is considered a high-risk condition because it may have serious consequences for the fetus health. ICP is characterized by the accumulation of bile acids in maternal serum which contribute to an imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen species and the antioxidant defenses increasing the oxidative stress experienced by the fetus. Previously, it was reported a significant decrease in plasma coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) in women with ICP. CoQ10 is a redox substance integrated in the mitochondrial respiratory chain and is recognized as a potent antioxidant playing an intrinsic role against oxidative damage. The objective of the present study was to investigate the levels of CoQ10 in umbilical cord blood during normal pregnancy and in those complicated with ICP, all of them compared to the maternal ones. Methods: CoQ10 levels and bile acid levels in maternal and umbilical cord blood levels during normal pregnancies (n = 23) and in those complicated with ICP (n = 13), were investigated.