Oxidative stress markers and antioxidant status after oral iron supplementation to very low birth weight infants.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate whether our current practice of giving iron 18 mg daily to 6-week-old infants with very low birth weight (VLBW) was associated with increased oxidative stress markers or decreased antioxidant status.


METHODS
The study was a prospective observational study of 21 healthy VLBW infants (born at gestational age <32 weeks, birth weight <1500 g). Blood and urine were sampled twice before starting iron supplementation at 6 weeks postnatal age and after 1 week of iron supplementation at age 7 weeks. Urine 8-isoprostane was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and plasma total hydroperoxides were measured. Antioxidant status was assessed by ascorbic acid (vitamin C), alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E), ferric-reducing ability of plasma, and plasma glutathione.


RESULTS
After 1 week of iron supplementation, no significant changes in urine 8-isoprostane or plasma total hydroperoxides were seen, and plasma antioxidants were largely unchanged.


CONCLUSIONS
Markers of oxidative stress in urine and plasma antioxidant status in healthy VLBW infants fed human milk remained unchanged after high-dose oral iron supplementation.
Braekke
Kristin
K
Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Ulleval University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. kbre@uus.no
Bechensteen
Anne Grete
AG
Halvorsen
Bente Lise
BL
Blomhoff
Rune
R
Haaland
Kirsti
K
Staff
Anne Cathrine
AC
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005296:Ferrous Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D011336:Probability; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000975:Antioxidants; D015415:Biomarkers; D005296:Ferrous Compounds; C031621:ferrous fumarate