Fetal coenzyme Q10 deficiency in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy

•A significant decrease in plasma Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) in women with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP), was observed.•Levels of CoQ10 in cord blood from ICP mothers remain unchanged with respect to controls.•The recognition of CoQ10 deficiency is important in ICP since it could be the starting point for a new and safe intervention strategy based on CoQ10 maternal supplementation to prevent the risk of oxidative stress in ICP. Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is considered a high-risk condition because it may have serious consequences for the fetus health. ICP is characterized by the accumulation of bile acids in maternal serum which contribute to an imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen species and the antioxidant defenses increasing the oxidative stress experienced by the fetus. Previously, it was reported a significant decrease in plasma coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) in women with ICP. CoQ10 is a redox substance integrated in the mitochondrial respiratory chain and is recognized as a potent antioxidant playing an intrinsic role against oxidative damage. The objective of the present study was to investigate the levels of CoQ10 in umbilical cord blood during normal pregnancy and in those complicated with ICP, all of them compared to the maternal ones. CoQ10 levels and bile acid levels in maternal and umbilical cord blood levels during normal pregnancies (n=23) and in those complicated with ICP (n=13), were investigated. A significant decrease in neonate CoQ10 levels corrected by cholesterol (0.105±0.010 vs. 0.069±0.011, P