Bioelements in hair of children with selected neurological disorders
Jan Józefczuk1, Wiktoria Kasprzycka2, Rafał Czarnecki1
1Paediatric Ward with the Paediatric Cardiology Unit - Specialist Hospital of the Holy Spirit in Sandomierz, Sandomierz, Poland.
Insights
This study analyzed essential mineral levels in children with developmental disabilities. Findings reveal distinct deficiencies and excesses of minerals like iron and calcium, varying by condition and sex, guiding potential nutritional interventions.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Clinical Chemistry
- Developmental Disorders
Background:
- Children with developmental disabilities often exhibit altered nutritional profiles.
- Specific mineral imbalances may be associated with conditions like epilepsy, Down's syndrome, and cerebral palsy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate hair mineral concentrations (magnesium, calcium, copper, zinc, iron) in children with mental retardation.
- To identify potential sex-based differences in mineral levels within specific diagnostic groups.
Main Methods:
- Hair samples from 82 children with mental retardation were analyzed for magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and iron (Fe).
- Patients were categorized into groups: epilepsy (9), Down's syndrome (18), and cerebral palsy (55).
Main Results:
- Boys with epilepsy showed deficiencies in Mg, Ca, Cu, and Fe, with normal Zn.
- Girls with epilepsy had low Fe but high Ca, Mg, Zn, and Cu.
- Children with cerebral palsy exhibited low Fe, with older patients also showing low Cu; girls had high Ca, Mg, Zn, while boys had normal levels.
Conclusions:
- Hair mineral analysis reveals specific patterns in children with developmental disabilities, differing by condition and sex.
- Results suggest potential targets for nutritional supplementation to address identified mineral imbalances.
Abstract:
We have analyzed concentrations of magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe) in hair of a group of 82 children with mental retardation, in which 9 patients suffered from epilepsy, 18 from the Down's syndrome and 55 from cerebral palsy. Girls comprised little over 50% of the patients. In the group of boys with epilepsy, we found Mg, Ca, Cu and Fe deficiency, and normal level of Zn. In the group of girls with epilepsy, apart from low Fe concentration, a high level of Ca, Mg, Zn, and Cu was noted. For girls with the Down's syndrome, a high or normal level of Ca, Mg, Zn and Cu was found, whereas the Fe concentration varied and presented itself in a non-characteristic way. Both groups of children with cerebral palsy, i.e. boys and girls, displayed low Fe concentration in their hair; low Cu level was found in older patients as well. In this group of patients, we also noted high concentrations of Ca, Mg and Zn in girls and normal in boys. A high concentration of Ca in girls with cerebral palsy requires separate analysis. The obtained results could be useful as guidance in the direction and determination of the amount of possible patient nutritional supplementation.
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