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Updated: Jul 17, 2026
10:57
Determining Soil-transmitted Helminth Infection Status and Physical Fitness of School-aged Children
Published on: August 22, 2012
Teniasis: effect on element status of children
Ali Celiksoz1, Eser Kilic, Suleyman Yazar
1Department of Parasitology Medical Faculty, Cumhuriyet University-Sivas, Turkey.
Biological Trace Element Research
|January 9, 2007
Summary
This study found that children with Taenia saginata infections showed numerically lower levels of magnesium and zinc, despite no statistical differences in essential element levels compared to healthy children. Further research is needed to understand these changes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Parasitology
- Clinical Chemistry
Background:
- Essential elements like copper, magnesium, and zinc are crucial for child development.
- Intestinal parasitic infections can potentially affect nutrient absorption and status.
- Taenia saginata infection is a common helminthic disease in children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the status of essential elements (copper, magnesium, zinc) in children infected with Taenia saginata.
- To compare the levels of these elements between infected children and healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- Blood samples were collected from 40 children with Taenia saginata infection and 30 healthy controls.
- Concentrations of copper, magnesium, and zinc were measured using standard laboratory techniques.
- Statistical analysis was performed to compare element levels between groups.
Main Results:
- No statistically significant differences in blood copper, magnesium, or zinc levels were observed between T. saginata-positive children and controls.
- A numerical decrease in magnesium and zinc levels was noted in infected children compared to controls.
- No correlation was found between age and the levels of these elements in either group.
Conclusions:
- While not statistically significant, the observed numerical decrease in magnesium and zinc warrants further investigation.
- Taenia saginata infection may be associated with subtle alterations in essential element status in children.
- More research is needed to elucidate the clinical significance of these findings.
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