Increased levels of malondialdehyde and nitrite/nitrate in the blood of asphyxiated newborns: Reduction by melatonin

Francesco Fulia, Eloisa Gitto, Salvatore Cuzzocrea, Russel J. Reiter, Laura Dugo, Placido Gitto, Salvatore Barberi, Stefania Cordaro, Ignazio Barberi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

237 Scopus citations

Abstract

Free radicals have been implicated in the pathogenesis of neonatal asphyxia and its complications. This study measured a product of lipid peroxidation, malondialdehyde, and the nitrite/nitrate levels in the serum of 20 asphyxiated newborns before and after treatment with the antioxidant melatonin given within the first 6 hr of life. Ten asphyxiated newborns received a total of 80 mg of melatonin (8 doses of 10 mg each separated by 2-hr intervals) orally. One blood sample was collected before melatonin administration and two additional blood samples (at 12 and 24 hr) were collected after giving melatonin. A third group of healthy newborn children served as controls. Serum malondialdehyde and nitrite + nitrate concentrations in newborns with asphyxia before treatment were significantly higher than those in infants without asphyxia. In the asphyxiated newborns given melatonin, there were significant reductions in malondialdehyde and nitrite/nitrate levels at both 12 and 24 hr. Three of the 10 asphyxiated children not given melatonin died within 72 hr after birth; none of the 10 asphyxiated newborns given melatonin died. The results indicate that the melatonin may be beneficial in the treatment of newborn infants with asphyxia. The protective actions of melatonin in this study may relate to the antioxidant properties of the indole as well as to the ability of melatonin to increase the efficiency of mitochondrial electron transport.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)343-349
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of pineal research
Volume31
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 2001

Keywords

  • Asphyxia
  • Lipid peroxidation
  • Melatonin
  • Newborn
  • Nitrite/nitrate

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Endocrinology

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