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Updated: Aug 12, 2026
Biochemical Measurement of Neonatal Hypoxia
Published on: August 24, 2011
Plasma ascorbate and ceruloplasmin levels in Thai premature infants
Patcharee Boonsiri1, Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, Pakaphan Kiatchoosakun
1Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand. patcha_b@kku.ac.th
Insights
High plasma ascorbate levels in premature infants correlate with poor outcomes, suggesting ascorbate can act as a pro-oxidant. This highlights the complex role of antioxidants in neonatal health.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Biochemistry
- Oxidative Stress Research
Background:
- Free radicals contribute to neonatal complications.
- Ascorbate (vitamin C) is a key plasma antioxidant but can become pro-oxidant at high concentrations with metal ions, potentially causing oxidative damage in premature infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To measure plasma ascorbate and ceruloplasmin levels in premature infants, their mothers, and full-term infants.
- To compare these levels across different infant groups and clinical conditions.
Main Methods:
- Study included 27 premature infants, 24 full-term infants, and 13 mothers of premature infants at Srinagarind Hospital, Thailand.
- Plasma ascorbate and ceruloplasmin levels were quantified.
- Levels were analyzed in relation to clinical presentations and outcomes.
Main Results:
- Plasma ascorbate levels showed a negative correlation with gestational age.
- Premature infants had higher initial plasma ascorbate than full-term infants, which decreased post-birth.
- Lower plasma ascorbate was observed in premature infants on oxygen therapy (p=0.017).
- Higher plasma ascorbate levels were found in premature infants who died compared to survivors (p=0.029).
- A higher ascorbate-to-ceruloplasmin ratio was linked to poor outcomes in premature infants (p < 0.05).
Conclusions:
- Elevated plasma ascorbate and diminished ceruloplasmin levels are associated with adverse outcomes in premature infants.
- This indicates that ascorbate's role can shift between antioxidant and pro-oxidant depending on the physiological context.
Background:
Free radicals have been implicated in the pathogenesis of some complications among premature infants. Even though ascorbate is an important anti-oxidant in human plasma, it can also act as a pro-oxidant at high concentrations in the presence of metal ions, which causes oxidative damage in premature infants.
Objective:
To determine plasma ascorbate and ceruloplasmin levels in premature infants (and their mothers) and full-term infants and to compare between groups.
Material And Method:
Premature (n = 27) and full-term infants (n = 24) and the mothers of the premature infants (n = 13) admitted to Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen University, Thailand, were enrolled in the study. Plasma ascorbate and ceruloplasmin levels were determined and compared among various clinical presentations.
Results:
Plasma ascorbate has negative correlation with gestational age of infants. Its level on day 1 of the premature infants was significantly higher than full-term group (52.62 vs 39.00 micromol/L) and then decline after birth. Premature infants receiving oxygen therapy had lower plasma ascorbate than premature infants without oxygen therapy (p = 0.017). Plasma ascorbate in premature infants who died was higher than in those that survived (p = 0.029). Premature infants with poor outcomes had a higher ratio of plasma ascorbate to ceruloplasmin than those with good outcomes (p < 0.05).
Conclusion:
This study shows that high plasma ascorbate and low ceruloplasmin levels are associated with poor outcomes of premature infants; that is, ascorbate can act as either an anti-oxidant or a pro-oxidant.
