Intestinal Colonization Leading to Fecal Urobilinoid Excretion May Play a Role in the Pathogenesis of Neonatal Jaundice

Abstract

Urobilinoids can be detected in stools of 57% of newborns at day 5 after delivery. However, the urobilinoid production during the first week of life is quantitatively insufficient to contribute significantly to the removal of bilirubin. Enhancement of the microbial conversion of bilirubin could decrease the intestinal concentration of bilirubin and may decrease the degree or enhance the removal of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia.