Serum copper and zinc concentrations and their relation to superoxide dismutase in severe malnutrition.
Serum Zn and Cu levels were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry in 117 children (aged 3 months to 5 years), divided into two groups; 80 children suffered from severe malnutrition and 37 children served as controls. Significantly lower levels of serum Zn and Cu were found in the malnutrition group. Zn levels of 2.59 +/- 0.15 microg/ml as compared to 3.92 +/- 0.35 microg/ml in the control group (P = 0.0037) and Cu levels of 0.74 +/- 0.05 microg/ml in the malnutrition group as compared to 1.19 +/- 0.08 microg/ml in the control group were observed. Superoxide dismutase activity in children with severe malnutrition was 21.13 micro 0.75 U/min per mg protein as compared to 26.02 +/- 0.66 U/min per mg protein in controls. Absence of breast-feeding, recurrent respiratory tract infection and diarrhoea correlated significantly with low serum Zn and Cu levels. Hypoproteinaemia and anaemia in malnourished children were also associated with a significant decline in both serum Zn and Cu levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Serum trace element deficiency leading to depleted antioxidant protection may be a contributing factor to the pathophysiology of protein malnutrition and replacement of these elements in the management of this condition might be important.
Thakur
Savitri
S
Department of Paediatrics, King George's Medical University, Lucknow, India.
Gupta
Neelam
N
Kakkar
Poonam
P
D000740:Anemia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007019:Hypoproteinemia / Q000453:epidemiology; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007223:Infant; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition / Q000097:blood* / Q000201:enzymology*; D012008:Recurrence; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism*; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood*
D015415:Biomarkers; D003300:Copper; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D015032:Zinc