Activated charcoal as an adjunct to phototherapy for neonatal jaundice

The effectiveness of activated charcoal as an adjunct to phototherapy in reducing plasma bilirubin levels was studied in the jaundiced rat. The administration of charcoal either by feeding or gavage was effective in reducing plasma bilirubin levels in both the adult and suckling jaundiced rat. The combination of charcoal feeding and phototherapy in the adult rat was additive in that the bilirubin levels were significantly lower when compared to levels of the rats given charcoal alone. Plasma bilirubin levels were significantly reduced in the suckling jaundiced rat given either charcoal or charcoal together with phototherapy, however, the combination of treatments did not appear to be additive. These data suggest that charcoal could be a useful adjunct to phototherapy by binding bilirubin in the intestinal lumen and reducing the potential for the enterohepatic circulation of unconjugated bilirubin. Charcoal combined with phototherapy may also reduce the intensity of phototherapy needed to effectively lower plasma bilirubin levels.