Developmental pattern of 3-oxo-Δ⁴ bile acids in neonatal bile acid metabolism

Abstract

The presence of large amounts of urinary 3-oxo-delta 4 bile acids may indicate immaturity in the activity of hepatic 3-oxo-delta 4-steroid 5 beta-reductase in the first week of postnatal life. Large amounts of this component in meconium may be due to the ingestion of amniotic fluid by the fetus during pregnancy.