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Significant increase of chromosomal damage in protein energy malnutrition
S el-Ghazali1, M Mikhail, M Awadallah
1Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
Insights
Protein energy malnutrition (PEM) significantly increases chromosomal aberrations in infants. Younger children with PEM showed higher rates of genetic damage, indicating a potential genetic risk.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Human Genetics
- Clinical Research
Background:
- Protein energy malnutrition (PEM) is a significant health concern in infants.
- Chromosomal damage can have long-term health implications.
- Understanding the link between PEM and genetic damage is crucial for early intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of PEM on chromosomal structure in infants.
- To compare chromosomal aberration frequencies in malnourished infants versus healthy controls.
- To explore the relationship between age and chromosomal damage in PEM.
Main Methods:
- Recruitment of 20 infants with marasmus and kwashiorkor and 10 healthy controls.
- Matching controls for age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Culturing whole blood lymphocytes for 48 hours to analyze chromosomal aberrations.
Main Results:
- Infants with PEM exhibited a nine-fold higher frequency of chromosomal aberrations (6.7%) compared to controls (0.7%).
- The difference in aberration rates was statistically highly significant (P < 0.001).
- Common aberrations included chromatid gaps, isogaps, breaks, dicentrics, and acentric fragments, with higher frequencies in younger infants.
Conclusions:
- PEM is associated with a substantial increase in chromosomal aberrations in infants.
- Age is a significant factor, with younger infants showing greater susceptibility to PEM-induced genetic damage.
- PEM poses a considerable genetic risk to affected infants, necessitating further investigation and clinical attention.
Abstract:
The present study attempts to investigate the impact of protein energy malnutrition (PEM) on chromosomes. Twenty infants suffering from marasmus and kwashiorkor were chosen from the in-patient paediatric hospital of Ain Shams University. They were matched by age and sex and socioeconomic status to ten healthy infants (controls). Whole blood lymphocytic cultures were set up for every infant and harvested after 48 h incubation. The frequency of chromosomal aberrations was found to be nearly nine times greater among infants with PEM compared to controls (6.7% versus 0.7% respectively); the difference was statistically highly significant, P less than 0.001. The recorded aberrations were mainly chromatid gaps and isogaps. In addition, chromatid breaks, dicentrics and acentric fragments were observed. Moreover, the younger the age of the infant the greater the frequency of chromosomal aberrations. The results direct our attention to the genetic risk effect of PEM.