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Zinc treatment affects superoxide dismutase activity in growth retardation
Pelin Aribal Kocatürk1, Zeynep Siklar, Güzin Ozelçi Kavas
1Department of Pathophysiology, Ankara University, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
Insights
Oral zinc treatment may help children with growth retardation. This study found zinc supplementation reduced elevated copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn-SOD) activity in these children, suggesting a potential therapeutic benefit.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Growth dysfunction in children presents diagnostic challenges.
- Copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn-SOD) plays a role in cellular protection.
- Altered enzyme activity may be linked to growth retardation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of oral zinc treatment on Cu/Zn-SOD activity.
- To assess changes in red blood cell copper and zinc concentrations.
- To evaluate zinc's effect on children with growth retardation.
Main Methods:
- Twenty-nine children with growth retardation (below 3rd percentile) were enrolled.
- Red blood cell Cu/Zn-SOD activity was measured using spectrophotometry.
- Red blood cell copper and zinc levels were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry.
Main Results:
- Baseline Cu/Zn-SOD activity was significantly higher in patients than controls (p<0.001).
- Zinc treatment led to a decrease in Cu/Zn-SOD activity, though it remained elevated compared to controls (p<0.001).
- Significant changes in red cell zinc (increase, p<0.01) and copper (decrease, p<0.001) concentrations were observed post-treatment.
Conclusions:
- Cu/Zn-SOD activity is significantly increased in children with growth retardation.
- Oral zinc treatment appears to ameliorate elevated Cu/Zn-SOD activity.
- Zinc supplementation may offer a therapeutic approach for managing growth dysfunction.
Abstract:
Children with growth dysfunction present complex diagnostic challenges. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of oral zinc treatment on red cell copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn-SOD) activity and copper and zinc concentrations in children with "growth retardation." Twenty-nine patients, average age of 11 yr, whose percentile was under 3% of the National Center of Health Statistics parameters were selected. For the control group, 10 children whose average age was 10 yr were included. Red cell Cu/Zn-SOD activity was determined by spectrophotometer. Red cell copper and zinc concentrations were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Red cell Cu/Zn-SOD activity was higher than the control group before zinc treatment (p<0.001). There was a decrease in the Cu/Zn-SOD activity after zinc treatment, but the mean value of the Cu/Zn-SOD activity of patients was still higher than the control values (p<0.001). After zinc treatment, there was an increase in red cell zinc concentration (p<0.01) and a decrease in copper concentration (p<0.001), which were statistically significant. The results of this study suggested that Cu/Zn-SOD activity was increased significantly during growth retardation and zinc treatment appeared to ameliorate the enzyme activity. There were also insignificant alterations in red cell copper and zinc concentrations.