title: Micronutrient, antioxidant, and oxidative stress status in children with severe cerebral palsy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Markers indicative of micronutrient and antioxidant status in children with cerebral palsy (CP) were explored due to these children's well-documented issues with food intake and the limited biochemical literature.
  
  
  METHODS
  Children aged 4 to 12 years with marked CP (n = 24) and controls (n = 24) were recruited. The CP group represented orally (O) or enterally fed (E) children. Concentrations of red cell folate (RCF), magnesium, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione reductase, and peroxidase were measured, as well as serum methylmalonic acid and vitamin C. Plasma hemoglobin, C-reactive protein, α-tocopherol, cholesterol, zinc, protein carbonyls, and total antioxidant capacity were also quantified.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data are reported as mean (SD) and z scores where values differ with age. Many similarities existed, but zinc z scores were reduced in O (-1.10 [0.83]) vs controls (-0.54 [0.54]) (P < .05), as well as for glutathione reductase in O (10.15 [1.69]) vs E (12.22 [2.41]) and controls (11.51 [1.67]) (P < .05). RCF was greatly increased in E (1422 [70]) vs O (843 [80]) and controls (820 [43]) (P < .001). SOD was decreased in E (24.3 [1.4]) vs controls (27.0 [2.8]) (P < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Considering their vast impact on physiology, micronutrients should be routinely monitored in orally fed children with swallowing disorders and dietary limitations. Excessive intakes, particularly long term in enterally fed children, should also be monitored in view of their potential for competitive inhibition, particularly at high levels.
authors.affiliation: Children's Nutrition Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Royal Children's Hospital, Herston, Australia. n.schoendorfer@uq.edu.au
authors.forename: Niikee C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Schoendorfer
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vitetta
authors.forename: Nita
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sharp
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: DiGeronimo
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Jeff S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Coombes
authors.forename: Roslyn
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Boyd
authors.forename: Peter S W
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Davies
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D004032:Diet; D004435:Eating; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood; D005980:Glutathione Reductase / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000097:blood* / Q000172:deficiency; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D009752:Nutritional Status; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D015415:Biomarkers; D018977:Micronutrients; D005492:Folic Acid; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005980:Glutathione Reductase; D015032:Zinc