title: Serum zinc and malondialdehyde concentrations and their relation to total antioxidant capacity in protein energy malnutrition.
abstract: The aim of present study was to assess the association between serum zinc and oxidant/antioxidant status in children with protein energy malnutrition. Serum zinc, total antioxidant capacity and malondialdehyde were measured spectrophotometrically in 100 children (6 mo to 5 y); out of these, 50 children were malnourished and 50 children served as controls. Serum zinc levels were found to be significantly low in the malnourished (p<0.001). Serum zinc levels in Grade I and Grade II malnourished were 82.7 and 67.7 microg/dL respectively and in Grade III and IV combined was 53.2 microg/dL as compared to 109.5 microg/dL in the control group. These levels were significantly lower in children who had skin lesions than in those without such lesions (p<0.001). Total antioxidant capacity was found to be significantly lowered in malnourished children (Grade I=1.3 mmol/L, Grade II=1.1 mmol/L, Grade III and IV=0.5 mmol/L) as compared to 2.0 mmol/L in the control group (p<0.001). The malondialdehyde concentration in malnourished children was significantly higher (p<0.001) (Grade I=1.6 nmol/mL, Grade II=1.9 nmol/mL, Grade III and IV=2.9 nmol/mL) as compared to 1.3 nmol/mL in controls. Total antioxidant capacity and hypoalbuminaemia were also correlated positively with low serum zinc level. Serum trace element deficiency leading to depleted antioxidant protection may be a contributing factor to the pathophysiology of protein energy malnutrition and replacement of these elements in the management of this condition might be important.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, People's College of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Bhanpur, Bhopal, India. anushokjain@yahoo.co.in
authors.forename: Anuradha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.forename: Meena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Varma
authors.forename: Bal Krishna
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Agrawal
authors.forename: Ashish Anantrao
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Jadhav
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D034141:Hypoalbuminemia / Q000150:complications; D007223:Infant; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood*; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis*; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood* / Q000172:deficiency
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D012709:Serum Albumin; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D015032:Zinc