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Blood glutathione in severe malnutrition in childhood
Insights
Blood glutathione (GSH) levels were assessed in malnourished children. GSH was normal in marasmus but significantly decreased in kwashiorkor and marasmic kwashiorkor, indicating its importance in edema malnutrition.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Pediatrics
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Glutathione (GSH) is a critical endogenous antioxidant.
- Malnutrition, particularly in children, can impact antioxidant status.
- Oedematous malnutrition represents a severe form of nutritional deficiency.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate blood glutathione concentrations in severely malnourished children.
- To compare GSH levels between different forms of malnutrition (marasmus, kwashiorkor, marasmic kwashiorkor) and healthy adults.
- To explore potential correlations between GSH levels and anthropometric indicators of malnutrition (wasting, stunting).
Main Methods:
- Measurement of blood glutathione (GSH) concentration.
- Comparison of GSH levels between 25 severely malnourished children and a control group of normal adults.
- Categorization of malnourished children into marasmus, kwashiorkor, and marasmic kwashiorkor groups.
Main Results:
- Blood GSH levels in children with marasmus (3.3 +/- 0.7 mg/gHb) were comparable to normal adults (2.9 +/- 0.4 mg/gHb).
- A highly significant decrease in blood GSH was observed in children with kwashiorkor (1.5 +/- 0.4 mg/gHb) and marasmic kwashiorkor (1.7 +/- 0.7 mg/gHb).
- No significant relationship was found between wasting or stunting and blood GSH concentrations.
Conclusions:
- Blood glutathione levels are significantly reduced in oedematous malnutrition (kwashiorkor and marasmic kwashiorkor), but not in marasmus.
- GSH depletion in oedematous malnutrition suggests impaired antioxidant defense mechanisms.
- Blood GSH concentration may serve as a biomarker for specific types of severe childhood malnutrition.
Abstract:
The blood glutathione (GSH) concentration was measured in 25 severely malnourished children and compared with a group of normal adults. In children with marasmus GSH (3.3 +/- 0.7 mg/gHb) was not different from normal (2.9 +/- 0.4 mg/gHb). However there was a highly significant decrease in all forms of oedematous malnutrition, kwashiorkor (1.5 +/- 0.4 mg/gHb) and marasmic kwashiorkor (1.7 +/- 0.7 mg/gHb). There was no relationship between wasting or stunting and blood GSH.