Does COVID-19 Affect Oxidative and Antioxidant Levels in COVID-19 Positive Mothers and Their Newborns? A Comparative Study

The COVID-19 pandemic has become a significant health issue due to its impact on pregnancy and the neonatal period. Research indicates that the thiol-disulfide balance in pregnant women with COVID-19 shifts toward oxidation, linked to ischemic processes in the disease's pathogenesis. This study investigates the oxidative and antioxidant levels in newborns of COVID-19-positive mothers, aiming to understand its potential effects on maternal and neonatal health. This single-center prospective study included 35 newborns born to COVID-19-positive mothers (Group 1), 27 healthy control group newborns (Group 2), and 17 COVID-19-positive mothers (Group 3). Native thiol, total thiol, disulfide, disulfide/native thiol, disulfide/total thiol, native/total thiol, and ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) levels were measured in serum samples using spectrophotometric methods. No significant difference in oxidative and antioxidant levels was observed between Groups 1 and 2. However, IMA levels were significantly higher in Group 3 than in Group 1. This study is the first in English literature to evaluate oxidative and antioxidant levels in newborns of COVID-19-positive mothers. Oxidative and antioxidant levels were similar between newborns of COVID-19-positive mothers and controls, but IMA levels were higher in mothers than their infants.". These findings suggest future research may focus on the biochemical impacts of COVID-19 during pregnancy and neonatal health.