Postnatal changes in plasma chain-breaking antioxidants in healthy preterm infants fed formula and/or human milk

Abstract

Concentrations of chain-breaking antioxidants were studied in the first 6 postnatal weeks in 29 healthy preterm infants (gestational age 30-35 wk). Vitamin C, uric acid, and sulfhydryl groups declined, whereas vitamin E rose and bilirubin followed its typical biphasic postnatal course. The influence of these changes on the plasma peroxyl radical trapping capacity was assessed in vitro (TRAP assay). The trapping capacity decreased postnatally and this appeared to be related to the coincident fall in uric acid concentrations. Results did not differ between babies fed with only preterm formula (n = 12) and those fed predominantly with human milk (n = 6), except for higher bilirubin and TRAP values in the breast-fed infants. There are major postnatal changes in the concentrations of the plasma chain-breaking antioxidants and this may influence the susceptibility of the preterm baby to oxygen toxicity.

Milk from Mothers of Both Premature and Full-Term Infants Provides Better Antioxidant Protection than Does Infant Formula

“…This suggests that the addition of these protective agents to formulas may help reduce the harmful effects of excess oxidative stress and inflammatory-induced reactive oxygen species, resulting in reduced symptoms, faster recovery, and normal development, as has been shown previously with SOD given intramuscularly (29). Consistent with these results is the report of Van ZoerenGrobben et al (7), who found that healthy breast-fed PT infants had higher antioxidant capacity in plasma compared with formula-fed infants. The results of Marshall and Roberts (20) showing that the survival of newborn rat pups exposed to Ͼ95% oxygen declined when fed with HM compared with formula feeding are less easy to comprehend.…”

“…Goldman et al (6) state that many factors, including antioxidants, are either absent or poorly represented in cow's milk or other artificial feedings, and that the attainment of appropriate plasma levels of some antioxidants in early infancy is dependent upon the feeding of HM. Van ZoerenGrobben et al (7) reported that premature infants who were fed HM had higher plasma peroxyl radical trapping ability in vitro than did control infants who were formula fed. Milk from mothers of PT infants is also known to vary in composition from milk from mothers of FT infants (8).…”

Plasma and erythrocyte α-tocopherol and plasma retinol concentrations in term infants fed formula enriched with long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids

“…It has been reported that preterm neonates fed infant formula without LCPUFA, but containing 20 mg/l of vitamin E and 0.8 mg/l of iron reached equal serum a-tocopherol Effects of LCPUFA-enriched formula feeding MJ Gonza Âlez-Corbella et al concentrations to preterm neonates fed human milk for 42 days. However, they had a lower serum peroxyl radical trapping capacity (TRAP assay) (Van Zoeren-Grobben et al, 1994), although a-tocopherol contributes considerably to the total radical trapping antioxidant potential of the organism (Wayner et al, 1987). The role of vitamin A is particularly critical during periods of rapid growth and tissue development, both in infancy and in early childhood (Underwood, 1994).…”

Effects of oral micellized natural vitamin E (d-α-tocopherol) v. synthetic vitamin E (dl-α-tocopherol) in feed on α-tocopherol levels, stereoisomer distribution, oxidative stress and the immune response in piglets

“…Amazan et al (2012) reported that FRAP of serum was affected by natural vitamin E supplementation of piglets in accordance with the differences observed in serum vitamin E concentration. Other authors (Van Zoeren-Grobben et al, 1994) reported that breast-fed children possessed more efficient antioxidant barrier in the blood and experienced less oxidative stress than formula-fed children because natural milk provided available antioxidants. Our results might indicate the importance of RRR-α-tocopherol stereoisomer, which is preferentially incorporated by piglets born from sows supplemented with the natural form, to control the oxidative stress.…”