Postnatal changes in plasma ceruloplasmin ferroxidase and transferrin iron-binding antioxidant activity were studied in 10 healthy preterm babies during the first 6 weeks of life. Ceruloplasmin levels and ceruloplasmin ferroxidase activity were low at birth, remained stable for the first 3 weeks, and increased between 3 and 6 weeks. The transferrin levels were also low at birth, and this finding persisted throughout the 6-week study period. However, although the plasma iron-binding antioxidant activity was correspondingly low at birth, it thereafter rose and remained high. In four cord blood samples, but not in subsequent postnatal samples, peroxidation was actually stimulated in the assay measuring plasma iron-binding antioxidant activity. We have previously shown that this phenomenon is probably due to the presence of non-protein-bound iron.
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