Trace Element Analyses (Zinc and Selenium) in Pediatric Malignant Lymphomas.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Oncology
• Nutritional Biochemistry
• Trace Element Research

Background:

• Malignant lymphomas are serious conditions in children.
• Nutritional status, particularly trace elements, may play a role in disease development or progression.
• Zinc and selenium are essential minerals with known roles in immune function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the zinc (Zn) and selenium (Se) status in untreated Turkish children diagnosed with malignant lymphomas.
• To determine if deficiencies in Zn and Se are associated with these cancers.
• To explore the potential impact of socioeconomic factors on nutritional status in pediatric cancer patients.

Main Methods:

• Studied 96 untreated patients: 81 with Hodgkin's disease and 15 with Burkitt's lymphoma.
• Measured plasma and hair levels of zinc (Zn) and selenium (Se) using atomic absorption spectrophotometry.
• Assessed chronic deficiencies by evaluating combined low plasma and low hair Zn and Se levels.

Main Results:

• Chronic deficiencies in both zinc and selenium were observed in children with malignant lymphomas.
• These deficiencies were associated with the presence of malignant lymphomas in the studied cohort.
• A majority of cases originated from low socioeconomic backgrounds, suggesting a link to nutritional environment.

Conclusions:

• Chronic zinc and selenium deficiencies are linked to malignant lymphomas in Turkish children.
• Poor nutritional environment, influenced by socioeconomic status, is a likely contributing factor.
• Supplementation with physiological doses of zinc and selenium is proposed as an adjunct therapy to chemo-radiotherapy.