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Racial differences in free radical scavenging enzyme activity in children
T A Glauser1, M Titanic-Schefft, C E Pippenger
1Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA. glauser@chmcc.org
Insights
Racial differences impact antioxidant defenses in children. African-American children exhibit higher levels of key free radical scavenging enzymes and trace elements compared to Caucasian children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Biochemistry
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Oxygen-derived free radicals contribute to pediatric neurologic diseases.
- Antioxidant defenses, including enzymes and trace elements, mitigate free radical damage.
- Previous studies noted age, sex, and ethnicity effects, but racial differences in antioxidant status were unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate racial variations in antioxidant enzyme activity and trace element concentrations in healthy American children.
- To determine if race influences the levels of glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glutathione-S-transferase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase.
- To assess racial differences in selenium, copper, and zinc concentrations.
Main Methods:
- Pilot study analyzing erythrocyte and plasma samples from 83 healthy American children (ages 1-18).
- Measured activities of five key free radical scavenging enzymes.
- Quantified plasma concentrations of selenium, copper, and zinc.
- Statistical analysis included one- and two-way interactions of race, age, and sex.
Main Results:
- African-American children showed significantly higher erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activity compared to Caucasian children.
- African-American children had higher plasma concentrations of selenium and copper than Caucasian children.
- Race was found to be a significant factor influencing enzyme activity and trace element levels.
Conclusions:
- Racial disparities exist in the antioxidant defense systems of healthy children.
- African-American children possess higher activity in crucial brain-related free radical scavenging enzymes.
- Future research on pediatric neurologic diseases must account for race, alongside age and sex, in study design and analysis.
Abstract:
Oxygen-derived free radicals play an important role in multiple pediatric neurologic diseases. Five intracellular free radical scavenging enzymes and three trace elements provide a significant portion of the body's defenses against free radical-mediated injury. Although the effects of age, sex, and ethnicity on the body's antioxidant defenses have been described, no study has examined whether racial differences exist. This pilot study sought to determine the effect of racial differences on the activity of five free radical scavenging enzymes and the concentrations of three associated trace elements in normal, healthy American children. The erythrocyte and plasma activities of five major free radical scavenging enzymes (glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glutathione-S-transferase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase) and plasma concentrations of three associated trace elements (selenium, copper, and zinc) were determined for 83 healthy American children, aged 1 to 18 years. One- and two-way interactions of race, age, and sex with each dependent variable were analyzed. African-Americans had higher erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase activity, erythrocyte superoxide dismutase activity, and selenium and copper concentrations than Caucasians. Racial inequalities do exist in free radical scavenging enzyme activity and trace element concentration in healthy children. African-American children had higher activity in the two most important free radical scavenging enzymes used by the brain compared to age- and sex-matched Caucasian children. Future clinical research in free radical-mediated pediatric neurologic diseases needs to consider race along with age and sex in both study design and data analysis.