Background and aim Phototherapy is generally considered as a safe and well-tolerated therapy in neonatal jaundice. Recently phototherapy has been shown to be related to oxidative stress. In this study we aimed to investigate the effects of phototherapy on antioxidant status of neonates with jaundice.

Methods We conducted a control-grouped pre-test, post-test quasi-experimental design at the newborn unit of a university hospital in Turkey from December 2012 to 2013. Term, very preterm (28 to <32 weeks), and late preterm (32 to <37 weeks) newborns hospitalised for significant jaundice requiring phototherapy in the 1–9 days of life were enrolled. A total of 56 newborns were included in this study. The study was approved by the local Research Ethics Committee and informed consent was obtained from the parents. Venous blood sampling was performed from a peripheral vein. Levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), reduced glutathione (GSH), and catalase (CAT) were measured before and 24 h after phototherapy. Statistical analyses were conducted using the SPSS version 20.0. Statistical significance was accepted at p < 0.05.

Results The levels of CAT increased after phototherapy in the all groups; however, this increased was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). The levels of GSH in the very preterm group were also found to be decreased significantly after phototherapy. It was observed that levels of MDA were elevated significantly in term neonates as compared to very preterm and late preterm neonates.

Conclusions Phototherapy did increase the oxidative stress in the term, very preterm, and late preterm newborns with jaundice.