Human Meconium Has Potent Antioxidative Properties

Abstract

In vitro the antioxidative capacity of pooled and lyophilized human meconium, measured by chemiluminescence, was compared to that of three potent antioxidants: vitamin C, a vitamin E analogue and a synthetic antioxidant, butylated hydroxytoluene. Meconium showed a significant superoxide trapping and peroxidation prevention capacity, but its capacity to trap peroxyl radicals was minor. These effects of meconium were possibly due to bilirubin and ubiquinol-10, both found in high concentrations in meconium. It is speculated that human meconium may have a physiological role as an important endogenous antioxidant during perinatal transition.