JOURNAL OF PAEDIATRICS AND CHILD HEALTH, vol.40, no.11, pp.633-637, 2004 (SCI-Expanded)
Objectives: Newborns, particulary preterm infants, have limited antioxidant protective capacity. The organism's defence system against reactive oxygen species including vitamins A, E and C, trace element selenium (Se) and enzymes, such as catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) are essential components of the antioxidant system against the oxidative injury to the cellular membranes of erythrocytes. In this study, our aim was to compare the oxidant nitric oxide (total plasma nitrite level as an indicator of nitric oxide (NO)), antioxidant vitamins and selenium and erythrocyte antioxidant enzymes in premature babies with hyperbilirubinaemia with healthy preterms.