title: Human meconium has potent antioxidative properties.
abstract: In vitro the antioxidative capacity of pooled and lyophilized human meconium, measured by chemiluminescence, was compared to that of three potent antioxidants: vitamin C, a vitamin E analogue and a synthetic antioxidant, butylated hydroxytoluene. Meconium showed a significant superoxide trapping and peroxidation prevention capacity, but its capacity to trap peroxyl radicals was minor. These effects of meconium were possibly due to bilirubin and ubiquinol-10, both found in high concentrations in meconium. It is speculated that human meconium may have a physiological role as an important endogenous antioxidant during perinatal transition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kääpä
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kytölä
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Soukka
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahotupa
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000032:analysis; D002084:Butylated Hydroxytoluene / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005612:Freeze Drying; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008470:Meconium / Q000737:chemistry*; D010545:Peroxides / Q000378:metabolism; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism; D014451:Ubiquinone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D010545:Peroxides; D013481:Superoxides; D014451:Ubiquinone; D014810:Vitamin E; D002084:Butylated Hydroxytoluene; C049375:perhydroxyl radical; C026663:ubiquinol-10; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; D001663:Bilirubin