The relationship between birth weight, oxidative stress and bone mineral status in newborn infants

Abstract

It was shown that oxygen-derived free radicals, and particularly the superoxide anion, are intermediaries in the formation and activation of osteoclasts. Many antioxidant defence systems depend on micronutrients or are micronutrients themselves. Oxidative stress might be related to bone indices in newborn infants. To assess the relationship between oxidative status and bone indices in small-for-gestational-age (SGA), large-for-gestational-age (LGA) and appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) babies born to healthy mothers. Umbilical cord venous blood samples were obtained at the delivery from 100 term newborn infants to measure plasma malondialdhyde, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and myeloperoxidase concentrations. Forty of the newborn infants had birth weights AGA, 30 were SGA and 30 LGA. Data were acquired using the whole body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scanner in the first 24 h after birth. Plasma malondialdhyde and SOD concentrations of the mothers and their newborn infants were positively correlated; however, plasma myeloperoxidase concentrations were not. SOD concentrations of SGA infants were significantly higher than those of AGA and LGA infants. Whole body bone mineral density and content were lower in SGA but higher in LGA babies than in AGA babies. Oxidative stress status of both infants and their mothers was not related to the bone indices. Our study does not provide support for the hypothesis that oxidative status of the infants and mothers may play a major role in the regulation of bone metabolism in the developing skeleton.