Oxidative Stress and Nutrient Imbalance in Pre-eclampsia: The Roles of Homocysteine and Vitamin B12.

The article investigates the roles of oxidative stress, homocysteine, and vitamin B12 imbalance in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia, a pregnancy-related disorder marked by hypertension and organ dysfunction. In a hospital-based cross-sectional study of 120 women divided into preeclamptic, normotensive pregnant, and healthy non-pregnant groups, preeclamptic women exhibited significantly elevated serum malondialdehyde (MDA, a marker of oxidative stress) and homocysteine levels, alongside reduced vitamin B12 concentrations. Positive correlations were found between MDA and homocysteine with clinical indicators of preeclampsia severity, while vitamin B12 inversely correlated with oxidative stress, suggesting a potential protective role. The findings support the integration of biochemical screening for these markers in prenatal care to identify at-risk women and highlight the need for further longitudinal and interventional studies to clarify mechanisms and evaluate preventive strategies such as antioxidant and vitamin B12 supplementation.