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.
Department of Paediatrics, King George's Medical University, Lucknow, India.
Savitri
S
Thakur
Neelam
N
Gupta
Poonam
P
Kakkar
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