Developmental pattern of 3-oxo-Δ4 bile acids in neonatal bile acid metabolism
- 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
- 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.
- ketonic bile acid
- 3-oxo-Δ4 bile acid
- 3-oxo-Δ4-steroid 5β-reductase
- meconium
- gas chromatography–mass spectrometry
