Peroxide-like oxidant response in lungs of newborn guinea pigs following the parenteral infusion of a multivitamin preparation.

The multivitamin solution is a major component responsible for the photo-induced generation of peroxides in parenteral nutrition. The lung is a target of oxidant injury; however, the specific role of infused peroxides is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine if parenteral multivitamins induce in the lung an oxidant challenge similar to that of peroxides. Newborn guinea pigs were infused with dextrose plus relevant concentrations of H(2)O(2) (0,250,500 microM) or multivitamins (0,1%), as well as parenteral nutrition supplemented with multivitamins (0,1%). After 4 days, total glutathione, glutathione-related enzymes, and oxidant-sensitive eicosanoids were measured in the lungs. Peroxides as well as multivitamins led to a significant decrease in glutathione and the activity of glutathione synthase, indicating that infused peroxides were not entirely transformed into free radicals, which would have stimulated glutathione synthesis. The multivitamin solution induced a response in oxidant-sensitive eicosanoids similar to the response to peroxides, suggesting an oxidant stress that was not alleviated by the antiradical properties of its components. The effects on prostaglandins occurred independently from the stimulation in glutathione levels induced by parenteral nutrition. The multivitamin solution carries an oxidant load and causes effects similar to those of peroxides in the lungs of newborn guinea pigs.