Introduction: The knowledge of reactions of the organism to birth as a stress situation enables to recognize and threatening asphyxia, which is one of the leading causes of perinatal morbidity and mortality. Objective: The determination of values of total antioxidation status (TAS) and malondialdehy-de (MDA) in healthy newborns delivered at term on day one and five of life and their comparison with a group of asphyxia newborns delivered at term (DAN). Patients a methods: The group of patients consisted of 15 healthy newborns delivered at term and (DZN) and 24 asphyxia newborns (DAN) delivered at term as well. In both groups of patients the authors determined the TAS and MDA values. Results: Reference values for TAS in DZN on day 1 of life were 0.52 ± 0.03 mmol/l and on day 5 of life 0.49 ± 0.04 mmol/l and for MDA on day 1 of life 0.72 ± 0.07 μmol/l and on day 5 of life 1.08 ± 0.09 μmol/l. In the DAN group the authors determined the values for TAS as 1.1 ± 0.08/0.98 ± 0.08 mmol/l and for MDA 2.08 ± 0.22/2.21 ± 0.34 μmol/l. Conclusion: MDA is the actual reflection of presently proceeding lipid peroxidation. The aut¬hors confirmed statistically significantly increased levels of MDA on day 1 and 5 of life in the DAN group (**p ≤0.01) as compared with the DZN group. TAS is a real value of the amount of antioxi-dant compounds in the DZN organism. A surprisingly significant increase in the TAS values in the DAN group (**p ≤0.01) on day 1 and 5 of life could indicate a certain ability of DNA to prevent disorder in the balance of overproduction of MDA and antioxidants. The establishment of values of TAS could be foundation of application of antioxidants in the treatment of asphyxia in the future.

        Key words: asphyxia, newborn, total antioxidant status, malondialdehyde