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Superoxide dismutase activity and zinc and copper concentrations in growth retardation
Pelin Aribal Kocatürk1, Güzin Ozelçi Kavas, Omer Erdeve
1Department of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey.
Insights
Oral zinc treatment improved copper/zinc-superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn-SOD) activity and normalized zinc and copper levels in children with growth retardation. These findings suggest zinc supplementation can help correct biochemical imbalances associated with growth issues.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Trace Element Metabolism
Background:
- Growth retardation is associated with altered copper/zinc-superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn-SOD) activity.
- Children with growth retardation often exhibit abnormal zinc and copper concentrations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of oral zinc supplementation on Cu/Zn-SOD activity.
- To assess changes in zinc and copper levels in red blood cells and plasma of children with growth retardation following zinc treatment.
Main Methods:
- Study included 35 children with growth retardation and 10 healthy controls.
- Cu/Zn-SOD activity measured using spectrophotometry.
- Zinc and copper concentrations determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry.
Main Results:
- Patients had higher baseline Cu/Zn-SOD activity than controls, which decreased after zinc treatment but remained elevated.
- Plasma zinc was lower in patients pre-treatment, increasing significantly post-treatment.
- Red cell zinc increased, while copper levels decreased in both plasma and red cells after zinc supplementation.
Conclusions:
- Growth retardation is linked to significant disruptions in Cu/Zn-SOD activity and mineral metabolism.
- Oral zinc treatment effectively normalized plasma and red cell zinc and copper concentrations.
- Zinc supplementation appears to restore biochemical parameters towards normal ranges in growth-retarded children.
Abstract:
The aim of this study was to determine the effects of oral zinc treatment on red cell copper/zinc-superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn-SOD) activity and zinc and copper concentrations in growth retardation. Thirty-five patients, average age of 11 yr, were selected. The control group consisted of 10 healthy children whose average age was 10 yr. Superoxide dismutase activity was determined by spectrophotometer. Copper and zinc concentrations were measured by an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The activity of Cu/Zn-SOD before zinc treatment was higher than the controls (p<0.001). There was a decrease in Cu/Zn-SOD activity after zinc treatment (p<0.001) and the values after treatment were still higher than the controls (p<0.001). Plasma zinc concentrations before zinc treatment were lower than controls (p<0.01). After treatment, there was an increase in plasma zinc concentrations compared to controls and the patients' values before zinc treatment, respectively (p<0.001, p<0.001). After zinc treatment, plasma copper concentrations were decreased significantly (p<0.01). An increase in red cell zinc concentration (p<0.01) and a decrease in copper concentration (p<0.001), which were statistically significant, were seen after zinc treatment. The results suggested that there were significant alterations in Cu/Zn-SOD activity and zinc and copper concentrations during growth retardation. With zinc treatment, these parameters appeared to approach normal values.
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