Abstract

Despite the role of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) in wound healing, its actions if not properly controlled by antioxidants, could be very deleterious. The interactions between micronutrient status and antioxidant defences in wound healing in elective caesarean section (CS), has not been explored sufficiently. This is of particular interest in the developing countries where micronutrient malnutrition is common especially in women of reproductive age group. One hundred pregnant women booked for elective CS from the Obstetrics and Gynaecology department of the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria were recruited for this study. Blood samples were collected from each patient recruited for the study; before surgery (BS), day 1 post surgery(D1PS) and day 4 post surgery (D4PS) with PCV measurement. Furthermore, levels of Cu, Se, Zn, Mn, Vitamin C and E, Total antioxidant potential(TAP), total plasma peroxide(TPP), and Oxidative Stress Index (OSI) were determined. Surgical wounds were assessed by a consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist on the fourth day post-surgery. Results were reported as mean±SEM for continuous variables while Analysis of Variance was used to assess difference between group means. Post hoc testing was performed for intergroup comparison using LSD. All results were considered statistically significant at p≤0.05. Though the levels of Mn and Se micronutrients measured decreased, they were not significant. There was a significant increase in TPP, and corresponding significant decreases in levels of Cu, Zn, vitamins C and E and TAP while decrease in D1PS levels of Mn, Se, OSI and PCV when compared to D4PS levels were not significant. Assessing micronutrients status in all elective CS patients before and after surgery may be considered an important part of surgical planning because of their possible involvement in wound healing.