Relation of oxidative stress, zinc and alkaline phosphatase in protein energy malnutrition.
OBJECTIVE
To determine serum zinc (Zn), total anti-oxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and albumin in protein energy malnutrition (PEM) and to analyse the appropriateness of using low weight-for-age for detecting childhood under-nutrition.


METHODS
This study comprised 455 children (355 malnourished and 100 normal). They were classified according to the Nutrition Subcommittee of Indian Academy of Pediatrics, Z-Score Classification and Composite Index of Anthropometric Failure. Serum Zn, TAC, MDA, ALP and albumin levels were determined.


RESULTS
The serum Zn, TAC, ALP and albumin levels were found to be significantly decreased and MDA levels were significantly increased in malnourished children as compared with control (P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The significant increase in serum MDA concentration associated with the decrease in serum TAC, Zn and ALP in malnourished children suggest that these children were potentially susceptible to high oxidative stress. Current study also suggest that conventional measures of detecting under-nutrition (low weight-for-age) may be missing out a considerable proportion of undernourished children present in the population.
Department of Biochemistry, People's College of Medical Sciences and Research Center, Bhanpur, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India. anushokjain@yahoo.co.in
Anuradha
A
Jain
Ashish Anantrao
AA
Jadhav
Meena
M
Varma
D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood; D009752:Nutritional Status; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012709:Serum Albumin; D013851:Thinness / Q000503:physiopathology; D019282:Wasting Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood*
D015415:Biomarkers; D012709:Serum Albumin; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D015032:Zinc