HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by JAUNIAUX, E. Articles by GULBIS, B. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by JAUNIAUX, E. Articles by GULBIS, B.

Chronic Maternal Smoking and Cord Blood Amino Acid and Enzyme Levels at Term

From the Academic Departments of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University College London, London, United Kingdom; the Departments of Clinical Chemistry and Obstetrics and Gynecology, Academic Hospital Erasme, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium; and the Department of Clinical Chemistry, Academisch Ziekenhuis, Vrije Universiteit van Brussels, Brussels, Belgium.

Address reprint requests to: Eric Jauniaux, MD, PhD Academic Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology University College London Medical School 86-96 Chenies Mews London WC1E 6HX United Kingdom E-mail: e.jauniaux{at}ucl.ac.uk

Objective: To assess the influence of chronic active maternal smoking on cord blood amino acid and enzyme levels at term.

Methods: The concentrations of 24 free amino acids, total protein, and five enzymes were measured in samples of maternal and fetal cord venous plasma from 24 nonsmokers who were not exposed to tobacco smoke and 24 chronic smokers. Cotinine levels were also measured in maternal plasma to evaluate fetal tobacco exposure. The pregnancies were between 37 and 40 weeks’ gestation, were uncomplicated, and were delivered vaginally.

Results: Fetal weight was significantly (P < .01) lower in the smokers than in controls. A positive significant (P < .001) correlation was found between maternal and umbilical venous cotinine concentrations. Significantly lower concentrations of aspartic acid (P < .01), hydroxyproline (P < .05), threonine (P < .005), alanine (P < .05), -aminobutyric acid (P < .001), methionine (P < .05), tyrosine (P < .001), phenylalanine (P < .01), and lysine (P < .05) were found in the venous cord plasma of the smokers compared with nonsmokers. The fetomaternal ratios were similar in both groups. The umbilical plasma alkaline phosphatase activity was significantly (P < .01) lower in the smokers than in the controls.

Conclusion: Chronic maternal smoking is associated with alterations of protein metabolism and enzyme activity in fetal cord blood. These may be secondary to irreversible changes in the cellular functions of the trophoblast and may contribute to fetal growth restriction.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. Sasaki, F. Sata, S. Katoh, Y. Saijo, S. Nakajima, N. Washino, K. Konishi, S. Ban, M. Ishizuka, and R. Kishi Adverse Birth Outcomes Associated with Maternal Smoking and Polymorphisms in the N-Nitrosamine-Metabolizing Enzyme Genes NQO1 and CYP2E1 Am. J. Epidemiol., March 15, 2008; 167(6): 719 - 726. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Sasaki, T. Kondo, F. Sata, Y. Saijo, S. Katoh, S. Nakajima, M. Ishizuka, S. Fujita, and R. Kishi Maternal smoking during pregnancy and genetic polymorphisms in the Ah receptor, CYP1A1 and GSTM1 affect infant birth size in Japanese subjects Mol. Hum. Reprod., February 1, 2006; 12(2): 77 - 83. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. R. DiFranza, C. A. Aligne, and M. Weitzman Prenatal and Postnatal Environmental Tobacco Smoke Exposure and Children's Health Pediatrics, April 1, 2004; 113(4/S1): 1007 - 1015. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]