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[Developmental profile of urine bile acids in preterm infants]
1Department of Pediatrics, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan.
Insights
The ratio of urinary 1 beta-hydroxylated cholic acid to total bile acids in preterm infants rapidly increases after birth, then declines. This developmental profile is consistent across various birth factors but shows slight sex-based differences.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Neonatology
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
Context:
- Preterm infants exhibit unique physiological adaptations.
- Bile acid metabolism is crucial for infant development and health.
- Understanding developmental profiles aids in identifying potential health issues.
Purpose:
- To establish the developmental trajectory of urinary 1 beta-hydroxylated cholic acid in preterm infants.
- To analyze factors influencing this developmental profile, including gestational age, birth weight, and sex.
- To explore the potential diagnostic utility of this biomarker for hepato-biliary disorders.
Summary:
- Urinary 1 beta-hydroxylated cholic acid/total bile acid ratio peaks at birth (approx. 50%) and decreases significantly by 40 weeks corrected age (<10%).
- Lower gestational age at birth correlates with a smaller ratio.
- The developmental pattern remains consistent across gestational age, birth weight (SGA/AGA), and sex, though females show slightly higher ratios at certain time points.
Impact:
- Provides a normative developmental profile for a key bile acid metabolite in preterm infants.
- Highlights the potential of urinary 1 beta-hydroxylated cholic acid as a non-invasive biomarker.
- May inform early diagnosis and management of hepato-biliary disorders in vulnerable infant populations.
Abstract:
To investigate a developmental profile of urinary 1 beta-hydroxylated cholic acid of preterm infants, a urinary 1 beta-hydroxylated cholic acid/total bile acid ration (%) was measured in 118 preterm infants using Gas Chromatography- Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Following results were obtained: (1) The mean value of urinary 1 beta-hydroxylated cholic acid/total bile acid ratio (%) increased rapidly from birth to 0 weeks of corrected postnatal age (Expected date of confinement was denoted as day 0), and decreased thereafter. Thus the mean ratio (%) at week 0 was approximately 50%, and it became less than 10% at week 40. (2) The earlier the gestational weeks of preterm infants at birth were, the smaller the ratio (%) was. (3) The developmental profile of the urinary 1 beta-hydroxylated cholic acid/total bile acid ratio (%) from birth to 110 weeks of corrected postnatal age had almost the same pattern regardless of gestational weeks at birth, weight at birth and whether it was small-for-gestational-age (SGA) or appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) in preterm infants. (4) The developmental profile of the urinary 1 beta-hydroxylated cholic acid/total bile acid ratio (%) from birth to 110 weeks of corrected postnatal age had a similar pattern between males and females, although the mean ratios at -13, -10, -5, 0, 20, 60 and 80 weeks of corrected postnatal age of the female group tended to be consistently higher than those of the male group in preterm infants. Based on these results, a possible application of the present analysis in diagnosing hepato-biliary disorders is being investigated.