Retinol and Alpha-Tocopherol Levels in Women With Different Levels of Phosphatidylethanol in the First Trimester of Pregnancy

BACKGROUND: Alcohol negatively affects the fetus, especially in the early stages of gestation. Ethanol promotes the formation of reactive species that are inactivated by the antioxidant defense system. Its important components are fat-soluble vitamins such as retinol and alpha-tocopherol. In this regard, the problem of optimizing the supply of these vitamins during pregnancy is extremely relevant. Both hypo- and hypervitaminosis can contribute to the development of pregnancy complications and the occurrence of fetal developmental abnormalities. AIM: The aim of this study was to assess retinol and alpha-tocopherol levels in the blood of women in the first trimester of pregnancy depending on the level of the alcohol consumption biomarker phosphatidylethanol. METHODS: This study included 167 women in the first trimester of pregnancy and 37 non-pregnant women of reproductive age. To identify the fact and amount of alcohol consumption, we performed a quantitative determination of phosphatidylethanol 16:0/18:1 in blood plasma using high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Depending on the phosphatidylethanol concentration, groups of women consuming different doses of alcohol were identified: Group 1 — phosphatidylethanol value ≤ 8 ng/ml (non-drinkers, n = 63); Group 2 — phosphatidylethanol value ranged from 8 to 45 ng/ml (drinkers of less than one dose, n = 68); Group 3 — phosphatidylethanol value 45 ng/ml (drinkers of more than one dose, n = 36). The levels of retinol and alpha-tocopherol were determined by the fluorimetric method. RESULTS: Both the alpha-tocopherol and retinol levels were higher in Groups 2 and 3 compared to the control values (p 0.05). When compared to the group of non-pregnant women, the alpha-tocopherol level was lower in the groups of non-drinking pregnant women (p 0.001) and those drinking less than one dose of alcohol (p = 0.012), with the retinol level being lower only in the group of non-drinking women (p 0.001). CONCLUSION: Even small doses of alcohol consumed by pregnant women affect the retinol and alpha-tocopherol levels, which can increase the risk of pregnancy complications and fetal abnormalities.