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Updated: Jun 23, 2026
Biochemical Measurement of Neonatal Hypoxia
Published on: August 24, 2011
Anti-oxidant enzymes and related elements in term and preterm newborns
Niccolò Nassi1, Vanessa Ponziani, Matteo Becatti
1Department of Paediatrics, University of Florence, Florence, Italy. nassi@scibio.unifi .it
Insights
Preterm infants, even healthy ones, show higher oxidative stress markers and lower antioxidant enzyme activity. Careful assessment of zinc and copper levels is crucial for their nutritional status.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Biochemistry
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Oxidative stress is a concern for extremely low birthweight neonates.
- Healthy preterm newborns may also face oxidative damage risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate oxidative stress and antioxidant status in preterm infants.
Main Methods:
- Measured urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD).
- Assessed plasma and erythrocyte selenium, zinc, and copper levels in 30 preterm and 30 term infants up to 100 days.
- Compared markers between preterm and term infants.
Main Results:
- Preterm infants exhibited significantly higher urinary 8-OHdG, indicating increased oxidative stress.
- Lower GSHPx activity was observed in preterm infants early on, not linked to selenium deficiency.
- Reduced SOD levels and significantly low plasma copper concentrations were noted in preterm infants up to 100 days.
Conclusions:
- Preterm infants, even those not extremely low birthweight, show signs of oxidative stress.
- Nutritional status of zinc and copper, essential for antioxidant enzymes, requires careful monitoring in preterm infants.
Background:
Although oxidative stress-related diseases mostly affect neonates with extremely low birthweight, healthy preterm newborns might also be at risk of oxidative damages. The aim of the present study was to verify this possibility.
Methods:
Urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), plasma and erythrocyte concentrations of selenium, zinc and copper were measured until 100 days of life in 30 preterm infants with mean +/- SD birthweight and gestational age of 1605 +/- 122 g and 34.5 +/- 0.5 weeks. The control group included 30 term infants with birthweight 3123 158 g and gestational age 39.6 0.7 weeks.
Results:
Throughout the study period urinary 8-OHdG, taken as a marker of oxidative stress, was significantly higher in the preterm than in the term group. Up until 20 days of life, GSHPx activity was significantly lower in the preterm than in the term infants but this was not associated with any apparent selenium deficiency. Conversely, up until 100 days, preterm infants had significantly reduced SOD levels that appeared to reflect a shortage of the elements needed for this enzyme's activity, notably copper, the plasma concentrations of which were constantly and significantly below the control values.
Conclusion:
The nutritional status of the elements related to the anti-oxidant enzymes, especially zinc and copper, should be carefully assessed in preterm infants, even if their birthweight is not extremely low.
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