Placental Passage of Free and Esterified Phytosterols in Humans (PTS)

Università Politecnica delle Marche

Status: Completed

Conditions: Mother Fetus Relations

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03705767

PTS1

Details and patient eligibility

About

Total plasma cholesterol rises by 60 % with progressing pregnancy in humans. Because lipid-lowering drugs are contraindicated during pregnancy, natural compounds, such as phytosterols, may be a safe and effective alternative to prevent undesirable effects. Information on phytosterols in pregnancy is so far very limited. To date, to the best of our knowledge, no studies have characterized the maternal-fetal gradient of free and esterified phytosterols in full-term human pregnancy. For this purpose, maternal and cord blood cholesterol and non-cholesterol sterol (campesterol, stigmasterol, sitosterol) concentrations were measured in term pregnant women at delivery by using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Enrollment: 68 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 20 to 40 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• A single pregnancy
• A gestational age determined from known last maternal menstrual period higher than 37 weeks
• A normal diet without phytosterol supplementation during pregnancy
• Written informed consent available.

Exclusion criteria

• Major congenital anomalies
• Maternal history of cardiovascular disease
• Endocrine disorders such as diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, pre-eclampsia, thyroid or adrenal problems
• Clinical chorioamnionitis