HUMAN MECONIUM HAS POTENT ANTIOXIDATIVE PROPERTIES

In vitro the antioxidative capacity of pooled and lyophilized human me conium, measured by chemiluminescence, was compared to that of three p otent antioxidants: vitamin C, a vitamin E analogue and a synthetic an tioxidant, butylated hydroxytoluene. Meconium showed a significant sup eroxide trapping and peroxidation prevention capacity, but its capacit y to trap peroxyl radicals was minor. These effects of meconium were p ossibly due to bilirubin and ubiquinol-10, both found in high concentr ations in meconium. It is speculated that human meconium may have a ph ysiological role as an important endogenous antioxidant during perinat al transition.