Developmental pattern of 3-oxo-delta 4 bile acids in neonatal bile acid metabolism.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether a fetal pathway of bile acid synthesis persists in neonates and infants.


METHODS
3-oxo-delta 4 bile acids were determined qualitatively and quantitatively in the urine, meconium, and faeces of healthy neonates and infants, using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.


RESULTS
The mean percentage of 3-oxo-delta 4 bile acids in total bile acids in urine at birth was significantly higher than that at 3 or 7 days, and at 1 or 3 months of age. The concentration of this component in meconium was significantly higher than that in faeces at 7 days and at 1 or 3 months of age.


CONCLUSIONS
The presence of large amounts of urinary 3-oxo-delta 4 bile acids may indicate immaturity in the activity of hepatic 3-oxo-delta 4-steroid 5 beta-reductase in the first week of postnatal life. Large amounts of this component in meconium may be due to the ingestion of amniotic fluid by the fetus during pregnancy.
Inoue
T
T
Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Kurume University School of Medicine, Fukuoka, Japan.
Kimura
A
A
Aoki
K
K
Tohma
M
M
Kato
H
H
D001647:Bile Acids and Salts / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D003404:Creatinine / Q000652:urine; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development*; D008297:Male; D008470:Meconium / Q000737:chemistry; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism*; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid / Q000652:urine
D001647:Bile Acids and Salts; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid; D003404:Creatinine; D010088:Oxidoreductases; C021936:3-oxo-5 beta-steroid delta 4-dehydrogenase