Perinatal bile acid metabolism: analysis of urinary unsaturated ketonic bile acids in preterm and full-term infants.
OBJECTIVE
To compare urinary concentrations of unsaturated ketonic bile acids in preterm and full-term infants.


METHODS
Urinary unsaturated ketonic bile acids were determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.


RESULTS
Urinary concentrations of total bile acids in early preterm infants (of less than 29wk gestational age) exceeded concentrations in late preterm (between 30 and 37 wk) and full-term infants (between 38 and 41 wk; p < 0.01). The percentage of ketonic bile acids (7alpha, 12alpha-dihydroxy-3-oxo-4-cholenoic acid and 7alpha-hydroxy-3-oxo-4-cholenoic acid) among total urinary bile acids in full-term infants (20.2 +/- 14.1%) was higher than that in early preterm infants (8.94 +/- 8.1%; p < 0.05). The percentage of unsaturated bile acids (3beta-hydroxy-delta5-bile acids) among total bile acids in urine did not differ greatly between groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The percentage of 3-oxo-delta4 bile acids among total bile acids in urine gradually increased from early to late preterm infants, while healthy full-term infants excreted large amounts of 3-oxo-delta4 bile acids in urine at delivery.
Maeda
K
K
Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan.
Kimura
A
A
Yamato
Y
Y
Matsuishi
T
T
D001647:Bile Acids and Salts / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine*; D002793:Cholic Acids / Q000652:urine; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000652:urine; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine*; D007659:Ketones / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine*
D001647:Bile Acids and Salts; D002793:Cholic Acids; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D007659:Ketones