title: Antioxidant vitamins and hyperbilirubinemia in neonates.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Low antioxidant system may contribute to the severity of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. The aim of this research was to explore the relationship between plasma vitamin E and C levels and the severity of hyperbilirubinemia in full-term neonates with normal glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) activities.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 130 full-term healthy live birth neonates of healthy mothers with normal G6PD activity were included in this study. In addition to routine blood analysis, plasma total bilirubin, vitamin E and C levels and G6PD activity were measured on the first day of life. None of the neonates was ABO incompatible or anemic.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Neonates who did not develop hyperbilirubinemia (n=119) had a mean plasma bilirubin level of 65+/-24 micromol/l (median 58.1), while neonates who developed significant hyperbilirubinemia (n=11) had a mean plasma bilirubin level of 238+/-56 micromol/l (median 246.2) on the first day of life. Mean plasma vitamin C levels of neonates who developed hyperbilirubinemia were significantly lower than those who did not develop hyperbilirubinemia (87+/-22 micromol/l (median 89.4) vs. 132+/-36 micromol/l (median 127.7), respectively, P=0.0001). Similar results were observed for plasma vitamin E levels in neonates who did or did not develop hyperbilirubinemia (7.5+/-2 micromol/l (median 6.3) vs. 10.4+/-5 micromol/l (median 9.1), respectively, P=0.001). Hemoglobin and hematocrit were significantly lower in neonates who developed hyperbilirubinemia (P=0.0002 and P=0.0003, respectively), although gestational age and birth weight for the two groups showed no significant difference.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the present work indicate that low level of plasma vitamins C and E are associated with significant hyperbilirubinemia in full-term neonates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Irbid, Jordan. kkalani@just.edu.jo
authors.forename: Khalid K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Abdul-Razzak
authors.forename: Mohamad K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Nusier
authors.forename: Ahmad D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Obediat
authors.forename: Ahmad M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Salim
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