title: DNA damage in healthy term neonate.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The process of childbirth is accompanied by an increase in oxidative aggression.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine DNA damage and oxidative stress in healthy term neonates at birth.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 34 healthy full-term neonates, 22 healthy adults and 20 samples of colostrum from mothers of full-term neonates were examined. The malondialdehyde (MDA), DNA damage, GSH/GSSG ratio and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in mononuclear cells isolated from umbilical blood and adult peripheral blood were measured. Moreover, the TAC of colostrum was also measured. The protective activity of five natural polyphenols against H(2)O(2)-induced DNA damage in mononuclear cells of umbilical blood was studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A high level of DNA damage (p<0.001) accompanied with lower TAC (p<0.05) and GSH/GSSG ratio (p<0.001) and with higher level of MDA (p<0.001) in umbilical blood compared with those of healthy adult peripheral blood. The natural polyphenols, 7,8-dihydroxy-4-methyl coumarin, quercetin and resveratrol, are able to protect mononuclear cells of umbilical blood from oxidative attack. However, other two polyphenols, rutin and 7-hydroxy-4-methyl coumarin, do not. The TAC of colostrum is significantly higher than that of umbilical blood (p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The DNA oxidative damage in mononuclear cells of umbilical blood as well as other indexes related to redox status provided evidence that a sudden increase in oxygenation exposes the neonate into oxidative stress. Colostrum with a significant high TAC is very important for health care in infants against the oxidative stress.
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, PR China.
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Xiao-Ju
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Juan-Wen
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Rong-Liang
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Zheng
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis; D003126:Colostrum / Q000737:chemistry; D003374:Coumarins / Q000494:pharmacology; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D005978:Glutathione / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D006923:Hymecromone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000737:chemistry; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010636:Phenols / Q000494:pharmacology; D059808:Polyphenols; D011794:Quercetin / Q000494:pharmacology; D000077185:Resveratrol; D012431:Rutin / Q000494:pharmacology; D013267:Stilbenes / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: C114368:7,8-dihydroxy-4-methylcoumarin; D000975:Antioxidants; D003374:Coumarins; D005419:Flavonoids; D010636:Phenols; D059808:Polyphenols; D013267:Stilbenes; D006923:Hymecromone; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D012431:Rutin; D011794:Quercetin; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D005978:Glutathione; D000077185:Resveratrol