Antioxidant Levels in Cord Blood of Term Neonates and Its Association with Birth Weight

OBJECTIVE: Due to excessive production of free radicals and antioxidants evolved mechanisms against oxidative stress, infants are very vulnerable. As there was a significant relation between antioxidant levels and birth weight, we aimed verify this relationship. MATERIALS & METHODS: In this descriptive analytical study we evaluated the antioxidant status of 40 healthy term newborns (gestation age 38-42 wk) with weight >2500 g (AGA) and 40 healthy term newborns (gestation age 38-42 wk) with LBW babies (weight < 2500 g) (SGA) in Ardabil Buali Hospital, Ardabil, northwest Iran in 2014. About 15 Ml of cord blood was collected after the second stage of labor. The levels of vitamin A, E, and C, catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GPX), bilirubin and serum uric acid were measured by standard methods. Informed consent was obtained from newborn mothers and study protocol was approved by university Ethics Committee. Data were analyzed using SPSS.19. RESULTS: The mean levels of bilirubin, vitamin C, E, catalase and GPX in AGA group were significantly higher than SGA group but the mean of serum uric acid in SGA group was more than AGA. In addition, the mean of vitamin A was similar in two groups. There was a significant relation between antioxidant levels and birth weight in term newborns. CONCLUSION: In line with other studies the amounts of antioxidant levels except serum uric acid in AGA group was significantly more than SGA group.