Effects of Preoperative Oral Carbohydrate Loading on Maternal Thiol-disulfide Homeostasis

The primary aim of this randomised control trial is to assess the impact of pre-operative carbohydrate loading on thiol disulfide homeostasis when compared to standard care in elective cesarean section. Half of the participants will receive pre-operative carbohydrates and the other half will receive standard care.

The concept of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) has been gradually extended from surgery to the field of obstetrics. Carbohydrate loading before the surgery in obstetric patients reduce the incidence of nausea and vomiting and reduce insulin resistance. Although these effects of the preoperative carbohydrate loading has been studied, the thiol disulfide homeostasis effects after carbohydrate loading has not been investigated yet. Thiol-disulfide homeostasis (TDH) plays a critical role in the mechanisms of antioxidant defense, detoxification, apoptosis, regulation of enzyme activities, transcription, and cellular signal transduction. Since the newborns are very susceptible to harmfull effects of reactive oxygen species, the effect of carbohydrate loading on the reactive oxygen species gain importance. All mothers undergoing a planned caesarean section in the Karaman Training and Research Hospital will be invited to participate. Mothers will be divided into two groups. One group will receive standard care and the other group will receive a carbohydrate drink in addition to standard care.