title: Acute postnatal increase of extracellular antioxidant defence of neonates: the role of iron metabolism.
abstract: In this study we investigated the extracellular antioxidant capacity of neonates during the first two postnatal days and its association with iron metabolism. Cord blood and blood samples at 47+/-6 postnatal hours were taken from 10 healthy neonates and their antioxidant capacity was determined using Randox Antioxidant kits and the heme-specific antioxidant activity (HSAA). Randox indicates the chain-breaking antioxidant capacity; HSAA corresponds to the ability to limit lipid peroxidation. Iron, ferritin and transferrin levels were also measured. Randox and HSAA values were 30% higher, ferritin was 100% higher and iron was 60% lower postnatally. The amount of change in HSAA values correlated with the change in ferritin level (r= 0.67, p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that extracellular antioxidant capacity (both chain-breaking and heme-specific antioxidant activities) increases shortly after birth. Lower iron and higher ferritin levels could also be responsible for this phenomenon.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Pediatrics, Joint Research Program of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Semmelweis University, Budapest. szabmik@gyer1.sote.hu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Szabó
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vásárhelyi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Balla
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Szabó
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Machay
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tulassay
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D001790:Blood Physiological Phenomena; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D007501:Iron