Low Cysteine (and Glutathione) and Premature Birth
In a study conducted by French researchers, a very close relationship was discovered between low levels of cysteine leading to low levels of glutathione in premature babies. Glutathione is a very important protein for our body, and is involved in important body functions, from detoxifying harmful substances to protecting DNA and free radicals. This research indicates that mothers who have premature babies generally have low levels of cysteine, an important element for the synthesis of glutathione, which leads to premature birth.
The original study can be viewed at the following link in its original language.
Below we present a summary of this publication in Spanish: Low umbilical cord glutathione in preterm infants: association with low maternal cysteine.
Authors:
Alice Koster1,2, Ella T3, Véronique Verchoux-Rocher5, Sabrina Le Bourg3, Claire Pluznic3, Norbert Wiener1,4, Jean-Christophe Rosier1,2, Richard J. Robbins3, Dominique Darmaun1.6* 1 UMR Nutritional Adaptation Physiology, INRA, University of Nantes, Nantes, France. 2 Department of Neonatology, CHU de Nantes & INSERM, Clinical Research Center, Nantes, France. 3 CNRS, CEISAM, UMR 6230, University of Nantes, France. 4 Department of Obstetrics, CHU de Nantes & INSERM, Clinical Research Center, Nantes, France. 5 Mass Spectrometry Core Facility, CRNH, Nantes, France. 6 Research Laboratory, Nemours Children's Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA.
summary:
Low blood glutathione (GSH), an important antioxidant, is a known fact in premature infants.
The aim of studies and research:
- Determine if low GSH is present at the time of birth.
- To determine whether it is associated with decreased availability of cysteine (CYS), the limiting precursor of glutathione, or with a decreased ability to synthesize glutathione.
Sixteen mothers who had given birth to very low birth weight infants and 16 mothers who had given birth to healthy, term infants were enrolled in the trial. Immediately after delivery, red blood cells were obtained from the umbilical vein, umbilical artery, and maternal blood for measurement of glutathione and cysteine. Similarly, the rate of glutathione synthesis was determined by incorporation of cysteine into isolated red blood cells in vivo, and was measured using mass spectrometry.
Conclusion:
Compared with mothers who delivered at term, mothers who delivered preterm had significantly lower concentrations of glutathione and cysteine in red blood cells, which were also significantly lower in preterm infants than in term infants. A relationship was found between maternal and fetal glutathione and cysteine levels, and the ability to synthesize glutathione was higher in preterm infants than in term infants.
Data that appeared during the study:
- Glutathione depletion is present at birth in premature infants.
- Premature infants have an active capacity to produce glutathione, so the decrease is due to low availability of cysteine, due to maternal malnutrition.
Further studies are needed to determine whether cysteine transport is affected in mothers of preterm infants, but cysteine-rich supplements are recommended for mothers at risk for preterm pregnancy to enhance antioxidant defense in their unborn infants.