Developmental Changes in Hepatic Antioxidant Capacity Are Age- and Sex-Dependent

Developmental inadequacy in hepatic antioxidant defenses may contribute to chemical toxicity and pediatric liver diseases. We measured a comprehensive panel of antioxidants in liver tissue from 27 normal pediatric donors. Glutathione reductase declined with age (P = 0.008, r = -0.54, Spearman) while microsomal glutathione-S-transferase increased (GST, P < 0.001, r = 0.81). Males had significantly lower superoxide dismutase and vitamin E (P < 0.05) and may have lower glutathione reductase (P = 0.06), while females show less cytosolic GST (P = 0.07). Hepatic antioxidants are high in neonates, decline throughout childhood, and then increase in adolescence to adult levels.