Related Experiment Videos
The total free radical trapping ability of cord blood plasma in preterm and term babies
J H Lindeman1, D van Zoeren-Grobben, J Schrijver
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Leiden, The Netherlands.
Insights
Newborns have higher total radical trapping antioxidant capacity (TRAP) than adults, potentially protecting them from oxygen toxicity. This may compensate for other immature antioxidant defenses at birth.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Neonatal Physiology
- Oxidative Stress
Background:
- Antioxidant interactions are crucial for protecting newborns from oxygen toxicity.
- Neonatal antioxidant defenses may differ from adults, impacting protection against oxidative stress.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare plasma total radical trapping antioxidant capacity (TRAP) in preterm infants, term infants (cord blood), and adults.
- To investigate the contribution of known antioxidants to TRAP and identify potential unidentified contributors in newborns.
Main Methods:
- Measured plasma TRAP in preterm infants, term infants, and adults.
- Quantified concentrations of specific antioxidants (uric acid, vitamin C, vitamin E, sulfhydryl, bilirubin, beta-carotene).
- Calculated theoretical TRAP based on measured antioxidant concentrations.
Main Results:
- Newborns (preterm and term) exhibited higher measured and calculated TRAP than adults.
- Vitamin C concentrations were higher, while vitamin E and sulfhydryl concentrations were lower in newborns compared to adults.
- Measured TRAP in newborns did not correlate with calculated TRAP, unlike in adults, suggesting differences in antioxidant recycling or unidentified antioxidants.
Conclusions:
- Newborn plasma possesses a robust radical trapping capacity, potentially offering protection against oxygen toxicity.
- The efficient plasma antioxidant capacity in cord blood may compensate for immature cellular antioxidant defenses at birth.
- Unidentified antioxidants likely contribute significantly to the measured TRAP in plasma, particularly in newborns.
Abstract:
The interaction between various antioxidants may be important in protecting the newborn baby against oxygen toxicity. We studied the total radical trapping capacity of the antioxidants in plasma (TRAP) and compared the TRAP level in the preterm and term baby (cord blood) with that in adults. In addition, the concentrations of various known antioxidants were measured and the theoretical contribution of these antioxidants to the TRAP calculated. The measured and calculated TRAP were higher in the newborn babies than the adults. The uric acid concentration was similar in the three groups but the vitamin C concentration was higher and the vitamin E and sulfhydryl concentrations were lower in the newborn babies. In contrast to the adult group, the measured TRAP in the newborn babies did not correlate with the calculated TRAP. This may be due to differences in inhibition or recycling of antioxidants in the newborn and adult groups. Theoretical considerations showed that there may be a large unidentified group of antioxidants that contribute to measured TRAP in plasma. Bilirubin and beta-carotene were measured (higher and lower concentrations, respectively, in the newborn) in an attempt to identify these antioxidants. The efficient plasma radical trapping capacity in the cord blood may partly compensate for deficiencies in other components of the antioxidant defenses, e.g. cellular enzymes, at the time of birth.