title: Antioxidant enzyme activities are decreased in preterm infants and in neonates born via caesarean section.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the antioxidant defense potential of human neonates according to gestational age and mode of delivery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four study groups were established, full-term normal spontaneous vaginal delivery (FT-NSVD, n=24), full-term caesarean section (FT-CS, n=19), preterm normal spontaneous vaginal delivery (PT-NSVD, n=15) preterm caesarean section (PT-CS, n=21). The activity of catalase (CAT), glutathion peroxidase (GPX), Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn-SOD) were determined from cord blood. Statistical analysis was made by ANOVA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CAT activity was significantly higher in full-term than in preterm newborns. In both the categories, neonates born via caesarean section had significantly lower CAT activities. GPX activity was significantly higher in the FT-NSVD group than in any other group. Cu/Zn-SOD activity was significantly higher in full-term neonates than in preterms and no difference was found related to the mode of delivery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prematurity and caesarean section may cause a deficiency of antioxidant defense in human newborn.
authors.affiliation: Mullikin Medical Center, Artesia, CA 90701, USA.
authors.forename: George D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Georgeson
authors.forename: Barnabás J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Szony
authors.forename: Károly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Streitman
authors.forename: Ilona Sz
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Varga
authors.forename: Attila
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kovács
authors.forename: László
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kovács
authors.forename: Aranka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: László
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D002374:Catalase / Q000097:blood; D002585:Cesarean Section; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D004798:Enzymes / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000378:metabolism; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012016:Reference Values; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D004798:Enzymes; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase