title: Lower serum levels of selenium, copper, and zinc are related to neuromotor impairments in children with konzo.
abstract: We assessed the relationship between key trace elements and neurocognitive and motor impairments observed in konzo, a motor neuron disease associated with cassava cyanogenic exposure in nutritionally challenged African children. Serum concentrations of iron, copper, zinc, selenium, and neurotoxic lead, mercury, manganese, cadmium, and cobalt were measured in 123 konzo children (mean age 8.53 years) and 87 non-konzo children (mean age 9.07 years) using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS). Concentrations of trace elements were compared and related to performance scores on the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children, 2nd edition (KABC-II) for cognition and Bruininks-Oseretsky Test, 2nd edition (BOT-2) for motor proficiency. Children with konzo had low levels of selenium, copper, and zinc relative to controls. Selenium concentration significantly correlated with serum 8,12-iso-iPF2α-VI isoprostane (Spearman r=0.75, p<0.01) and BOT-2 scores (r=0.31, p=0.00) in children with konzo. Elemental deficiency was not associated with poor cognition. Mean (SD) urinary level of thiocyanate was 388.03 (221.75) μmol/l in non-konzo compared to 518.59 (354.19) μmol/l in konzo children (p<0.01). Motor deficits associated with konzo may possibly be driven by the combined effects of cyanide toxicity and Se deficiency on prooxidant mechanisms. Strategies to prevent konzo may include dietary supplementation with trace elements, preferentially, those with antioxidant and cyanide-scavenging properties.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic Of Congo.
authors.forename: G M-M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Bumoko
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, University of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic Of Congo.
authors.forename: N H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Sadiki
authors.affiliation: Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences and Department of Neurology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rwatambuga
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, University of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic Of Congo.
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Kayembe
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic Of Congo.
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Okitundu
authors.affiliation: Department of Tropical Medicine, University of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic Of Congo; Institut National de Recherches Biomedicales, Democratic Republic Of Congo.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mumba Ngoyi
authors.affiliation: Department of Tropical Medicine, University of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic Of Congo; Institut National de Recherches Biomedicales, Democratic Republic Of Congo.
authors.forename: J-J T
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Muyembe
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health & National Nutrition Program, Ministry of Health, Democratic Republic Of Congo.
authors.forename: J-P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Banea
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Neurology/Ophthalmology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Boivin
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic Of Congo; Institut National de Recherches Biomedicales, Democratic Republic Of Congo; Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences and Department of Neurology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA. Electronic address: tshalad@ohsu.edu.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tshala-Katumbay
mesh_terms: D000349:Africa; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003071:Cognition; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood*; D003486:Cyanides / Q000097:blood; D015237:Dinoprost / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D016472:Motor Neuron Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000652:urine; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D012643:Selenium / Q000097:blood*; D013861:Thiocyanates / Q000652:urine; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: C115626:8,12-iso-isoprostane F2alpha-VI; D003486:Cyanides; D013861:Thiocyanates; D003300:Copper; D015237:Dinoprost; D012643:Selenium; D015032:Zinc; C031760:thiocyanate
keywords: Copper; Cyanide; Konzo; Oxidative stress; Selenium; Zinc