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Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 1997;77:F52-F56 doi:10.1136/fn.77.1.F52
  • Original article

Developmental pattern of 3-oxo-Δ4 bile acids in neonatal bile acid metabolism

  1. Toshiro Inouea,
  2. Akihiko Kimuraa,
  3. Kumiko Aokib,
  4. Masahiko Tohmac,
  5. Hirohisa Katoa
  1. aDepartment of Paediatrics and Child Health, Kurume University School of Medicine, Fukuoka, Japan, bResearch Institute of Medical Mass Spectrometry, cFaculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Sciences University of Hokkaido
  1. Dr Akihiko Kimura, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Kurume University School of Medicine, 67 Asahi-machi, Kurume 830, Japan.
  • Accepted 4 February 1997

Abstract

AIMS To investigate whether a fetal pathway of bile acid synthesis persists in neonates and infants.

METHODS 3-oxo-Δ4 bile acids were determined qualitatively and quantitatively in the urine, meconium, and faeces of healthy neonates and infants, using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry.

RESULTS The mean percentage of 3-oxo-Δ4 bile acids in total bile acids in urine at birth was significantly higher than that at 3 or 7 days, and at 1 or 3 months of age. The concentration of this component in meconium was significantly higher than that in faeces at 7 days and at 1 or 3 months of age.

CONCLUSIONS The presence of large amounts of urinary 3-oxo-Δ4 bile acids may indicate immaturity in the activity of hepatic 3-oxo-Δ4-steroid 5β-reductase in the first week of postnatal life. Large amounts of this component in meconium may be due to the ingestion of amniotic fluid by the fetus during pregnancy.

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