Effects of Phototherapy on Antioxidant Status of Preterm and Term

The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of phototherapy on antioxidant status of preterm and term infants with hyperbilirubinemia.
Term and preterm infants were divided to three groups; group 1: 28 to It was found that the reduced glutathione levels in group 1 including preterm infants decreased significantly after phototherapy. It was observed that levels of malondialdehyde increased significantly in term infants compared to preterm infants in group 1 and group 2. It was observed that the decreases in bilirubin and superoxide dismutase enzyme were correlated in group 2 preterm infants and group 3 term infants.
Phototherapy did not significantly affect the antioxidant level in the present study. The fact that therewasa significant decrease in glutathione peroxidase levels after phototherapy only in group 1 preterm infants suggests that more attention should be paid when phototherapy is used in this age group.