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[The comparison of selenium status between the children suffered from pneumonia and the normal children from
Insights
Children with pneumonia have lower selenium and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) levels. Urinary selenium was higher in pneumonia patients, indicating altered selenium status in pediatric pneumonia.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Pediatrics
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element vital for immune function.
- Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) is a key antioxidant enzyme, its activity is selenium-dependent.
- Altered nutritional status, including trace elements, may impact pediatric respiratory infections like pneumonia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between selenium status and pediatric pneumonia.
- To compare selenium and GSH-Px levels in children with and without pneumonia.
- To assess selenium levels during different stages of pneumonia (crisis vs. convalescence).
Main Methods:
- Measured plasma and white blood cell selenium and GSH-Px activity in 57 pneumonia cases and 85 controls (under 10 years).
- Determined urinary selenium content in both groups.
- Compared biochemical parameters between pneumonia patients and healthy controls, and between illness stages.
Main Results:
- Children with pneumonia exhibited significantly lower plasma and white blood cell selenium and GSH-Px levels compared to controls.
- Urinary selenium content was significantly higher in children with pneumonia.
- During crisis, white blood cell selenium content and GSH-Px activity were markedly lower than during convalescence.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric pneumonia is associated with impaired selenium status, evidenced by lower blood levels and altered urinary excretion.
- Selenium deficiency or altered metabolism may play a role in the pathogenesis or severity of childhood pneumonia.
- Monitoring selenium status could be relevant for managing pediatric pneumonia patients, especially during acute phases.
Abstract:
In order to investigate the relationship between selenium (Se) status and pneumonia children, the levels of Se and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in plasma and white blood cells and Se content in urine were determined in 57 cases with pneumonia and 85 control children under 10 years old. The results showed that the levels of Se and GSH-Px in plasma and white blood cell in the group of pneumonia were significantly lower, but the content of Se in urine was higher. Se content and GSH-Px activity in white blood cells of patients during crisis were significantly lower than those of patients during convalescence.