Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Using Multi-fluorinated Bile Acids and In Vivo Magnetic Resonance Imaging to Measure Bile Acid Transport
08:42

Using Multi-fluorinated Bile Acids and In Vivo Magnetic Resonance Imaging to Measure Bile Acid Transport

Published on: November 27, 2016

Developmental pattern of urinary bile acid profile in preterm infants

Hiroshi Nishiura1, Akihiko Kimura, Yasuhiko Yamato

  • 1Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan.

Pediatrics International : Official Journal of the Japan Pediatric Society
|May 23, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Bile acid metabolism in preterm infants shows prolonged cholestasis. The 25-hydroxylation pathway appears crucial for bile acid synthesis in early development.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal physiology
  • Bile acid metabolism
  • Infant development

Background:

  • Bile acid metabolism in preterm infants is not fully understood.
  • This study compares urinary bile acid profiles in preterm infants (25-33 weeks gestation) with full-term infants.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize the developmental pattern of urinary bile acid profiles in preterm infants.
  • To compare these patterns with those observed in full-term infants.

Main Methods:

  • Serial urine samples were collected from preterm infants.
  • Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used for analysis.

Main Results:

  • Total urinary bile acids peaked at 1-2 months, then decreased.
  • The proportion of standard bile acids (like cholic acid) decreased, while 1beta-hydroxylated bile acids increased significantly.
  • 1beta-hydroxylated bile acids constituted 70-90% of total bile acids by 1 month and remained high.

Conclusions:

  • Preterm infants experience prolonged physiological cholestasis compared to full-term infants.
  • The 25-hydroxylation pathway is likely vital for bile acid synthesis in early preterm development.
  • Elevated levels of cholic acid and 1beta,3alpha,7alpha,12alpha-tetrahydroxy-5beta-cholan-24-oic acid were observed.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Extrahepatic Bile Duct and Gall Bladder Dissection in Nine-Day-Old Mouse Neonates06:10

Extrahepatic Bile Duct and Gall Bladder Dissection in Nine-Day-Old Mouse Neonates

Published on: August 23, 2022

Bile Salt-induced Biofilm Formation in Enteric Pathogens: Techniques for Identification and Quantification10:05

Bile Salt-induced Biofilm Formation in Enteric Pathogens: Techniques for Identification and Quantification

Published on: May 6, 2018

Related Concept Videos

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption01:23

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption

Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism01:24

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism

In pediatric care, understanding the nuances of hepatic drug metabolism is crucial, as it significantly differs from that of adults. This divergence is primarily due to the developmental stage of drug-metabolizing enzymes, which affects how medications are processed in the body. In neonates, for instance, the activity of Phase I enzymes—critical for the initial breakdown of drugs—is markedly reduced, functioning at just 20–40% of the levels seen in adults. This reduction poses a challenge in...
Development of Human Microbiota01:30

Development of Human Microbiota

The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from the skin...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution01:17

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution

Drug distribution in the pediatric population exhibits unique challenges and considerations due to the physiological differences between children, particularly neonates and infants, and adults. A crucial aspect of pediatric pharmacology is understanding how these differences impact the pharmacokinetics of various drugs, necessitating age-specific dosing strategies to ensure efficacy and safety.Neonates and infants have a higher total body water content, ~75%–90% of their body weight, compared...
Hepatic Drug Excretion: Influencing Factors01:16

Hepatic Drug Excretion: Influencing Factors

The biliary system of the liver, crucial for bile secretion and drug excretion, comprises intrahepatic bile ducts that merge to form the common hepatic duct. This duct, carrying hepatic bile, combines with the cystic duct, draining the gallbladder and forming the common bile duct, which empties into the duodenum. Bile, produced by hepatic cells lining the bile canaliculi, is composed primarily of water, bile salts, pigments, electrolytes, and lesser amounts of cholesterol and fatty acids. Bile...
Anatomy of the Intestines01:23

Anatomy of the Intestines

Although digestion of proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids may begin in the stomach, it is completed in the intestine. The absorption of nutrients, water, and electrolytes from food and drink also occurs in the intestine. The intestines can be divided into two structurally distinct organs—the small and large intestines.
Small Intestines
The small intestine is an ~7 meter-long tube with an inner diameter of just 2.5 cm. Since most nutrients are absorbed here, the inner lining of the small...