Investigating the Role of Antioxidant Status in Neonatal Congenital Heart Disease: A Comparative Analysis of Serum Vitamin E Levels

Background: Congenital heart disease (CHD), the most common congenital anomaly, affects ۵-۶ per ۱,۰۰۰ live births. While only ۱۵% of cases have known causes, maternal risk factors including diabetes, poor nutrition, and hyperhomocysteinemia-are implicated. Hyperhomocysteinemia, which is partly modifiable by folic acid, may disrupt fetal development through oxidative stress and gene dysregulation. Vitamin E, a key antioxidant, is essential during embryogenesis; however, both deficiency and excess have been linked to an increased risk of CHD. This study investigates the association between neonatal serum vitamin E levels and CHD, aiming to clarify its potential etiologic role and inform preventive or therapeutic strategies. Methods: This case-control study, conducted in ۲۰۲۱ at Ayatollah Mousavi Hospital in Zanjan, Iran, compared serum vitamin E levels in ۳۶ neonates with congenital heart disease and ۳۶ healthy controls. Infants aged ۱-۲۸ days were included based on clinical and diagnostic criteria. Frequency matching was used for gestational age and sex. Vitamin E levels were measured using HPLC. Data were analyzed with SPSS ۲۶ using appropriate non-parametric tests. Ethical approval and parental consent were obtained by institutional guidelines. Results: This study included ۷۲ neonates (۳۶ with CHD and ۳۶ healthy controls), matched by gestational age (median: ۳۸.۰ weeks; P = ۰.۱۳۴) and sex (P = ۰.۶۲۹). No significant differences were observed between groups regarding serum vitamin E levels (۷.۰۵ vs. ۷.۸۵; P = ۰.۴۷۷), parental consanguinity (۸.۳% vs. ۱۶.۷%; P = ۰.۴۷۸), or maternal disease history (۳۰.۶% vs. ۲۵%; P = ۰.۵۹۹). These findings suggest no association between serum vitamin E levels or selected demographic variables and the presence of congenital heart disease. Conclusion: This study found no significant difference in serum vitamin E levels between neonates with congenital heart disease and healthy controls. The findings suggest that vitamin E deficiency is not a major contributing factor to the development of CHD in neonates. Further studies are recommended to clarify the potential role of vitamin E in cardiac embryogenesis.

کلیدواژه ها:

Neonates ، Congenital heart disease ، Ventricular septal defect ، Atrial septal defect ، Vitamin E