title: The relationship between nutritional status, vitamin A and zinc levels and oxidative stress in patients with ataxia-telangiectasia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T) is a rare and degenerative disease that leads to varying degrees of immunodeficiency, oxidative stress, and malnutrition. Vitamin A and zinc are essential for immune function and antioxidant defence.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare levels of retinol, beta carotene, and zinc in patients with ataxia-telangiectasia and healthy controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a cross-sectional study with 14 AT patients and 14 healthy controls matched for age and gender. All participants underwent a nutritional and laboratory evaluation comprising concentrations of retinol, beta carotene, serum and erythrocyte zinc, malondialdehyde (MDA), T lymphocyte numbers (CD4(+) and CD8(+)) and immunoglobulin (IgA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The AT patients showed high rates of malnutrition with reduced lean body mass when compared to the control group. However, the concentrations of MDA, retinol, beta carotene, and serum and erythrocyte zinc in AT patients were similar to those of the control group. The retinol levels presented a negative correlation with MDA and positive correlation with IgA serum level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The AT patients assessed showed no change in nutritional status for vitamin A and zinc; however, they presented severe impairment in overall nutritional status observed and correlation between retinol with MDA and IgA.
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil; Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: dos Santos-Valente
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Burim Scomparini
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil; ABC University, Santo Andre, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: R O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Saccardo Sarni
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: beacarvalho@terra.com.br.
authors.forename: B T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Costa-Carvalho
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001260:Ataxia Telangiectasia / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology*; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D014801:Vitamin A; D015032:Zinc
keywords: Ataxia-telangiectasia; Immune system; Nutritional status; Oxidative stress; Retinol; Zinc