Antioxidant levels in cord blood of low birth weight newborns.

We evaluated the antioxidant status of 82 healthy term low birth weight (LBW) newborns and equal number of gestation and sex matched controls weighing <2500 g by measuring vitamin A and E, superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase in cord serum. Levels of vitamin A and E, superoxide dismutase and catalase were significantly lower and glutathione peroxidase significantly higher in LBW babies compared to controls, with the lowest levels found in babies showing more severe growth restriction (<2000 g). We conclude that LBW newborns are deficient in several important antioxidants which may predispose them to higher oxidative stress.