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Red cell superoxide dismutase activity as an index of human copper nutrition
Insights
Red blood cell superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity effectively indicates copper nutrition in infants. Supplementation significantly increased SOD, plasma copper, and ceruloplasmin levels, showing SOD
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Human Nutrition
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Copper is essential for infant development and enzyme function.
- Malnutrition can lead to marginal copper intake and deficiencies.
- Assessing copper status in infants requires reliable biochemical markers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate red blood cell superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity as a biochemical index of copper nutrition in infants.
- To determine the correlation between SOD activity and plasma copper levels.
- To assess the impact of copper supplementation on SOD activity in recovering malnourished infants.
Main Methods:
- A double-blind study involving 17 infants recovering from malnutrition.
- Paired infants received either copper sulfate supplementation or a placebo.
- Measurements included plasma copper, ceruloplasmin, and red cell SOD activity before and after supplementation.
Main Results:
- Copper supplementation significantly increased plasma copper, ceruloplasmin, and red cell SOD activity.
- Red cell SOD activity showed a strong positive correlation with plasma copper levels (r = 0.78).
- SOD activity did not correlate with anthropometric measures like weight-for-age.
Conclusions:
- Red cell SOD activity is a reliable indicator of copper nutritional status in humans.
- SOD activity serves as a sensitive marker for assessing copper status in infants.
- Copper supplementation effectively improves copper status and related enzyme activities in malnourished infants.
Abstract:
Red cell superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was evaluated as a biochemical index of copper nutrition in a double-blind study of 17 infants recovering from malnutrition and receiving marginal copper intakes. Children were paired on admission by sex, birth weight, nutritional status and antecedents of diarrhea and breast feeding. Nine served as controls receiving a copper sulfate supplement (80 micrograms/kg daily for 120 d; eight received a placebo and were supplemented only if plasma copper levels dropped below 90 micrograms/dl or on d 90 for at least 30 d. After copper supplementation there was a significant rise (paired t-test; P less than 0.05) in plasma copper (96 vs. 165 micrograms/dl); ceruloplasmin (33 vs. 50 mg/dl) and SOD (1073 vs. 1371 U/g Hb). After supplementation these values were similar to those of the controls. SOD was correlated with plasma copper (r = 0.78; P less than 0.001) and not with weight-for-age or weight-for-length. Addition of copper in vitro did not modify the SOD activity. Red cell SOD is a good marker of copper nutrition in humans and correlates well with plasma copper.