Nutritional status in girls with juvenile chronic arthritis

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Rheumatology
• Nutritional Science
• Immunology

Background:

• Juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA) is an inflammatory condition affecting children.
• Nutritional status, particularly micronutrients involved in inflammation, may be altered in JCA.
• Understanding these alterations is crucial for managing disease progression and growth.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the nutritional status of girls with JCA, focusing on key nutrients.
• To assess the relationship between nutritional status and disease activity in JCA.
• To evaluate growth parameters and muscle mass in JCA patients.

Main Methods:

• Compared nutritional markers (selenium, glutathione peroxidase, ascorbic acid, tocopherol, folate, cobalamin) in 26 JCA girls and healthy controls.
• Assessed plasma, blood, platelet, mononuclear cell, and granulocyte nutrient levels.
• Measured growth parameters, serum creatinine, and arm muscle circumference.

Main Results:

• JCA patients showed decreased plasma selenium and slightly depressed blood glutathione peroxidase activity, more pronounced with higher disease activity.
• A slight decrease in granulocyte ascorbic acid was noted in JCA patients.
• Arthritic patients exhibited impaired growth, lower serum creatinine, and reduced arm muscle circumference, particularly in systemic or polyarticular JCA.

Conclusions:

• JCA is associated with specific nutritional deficiencies and reduced muscle mass.
• Disease activity correlates with the severity of certain nutritional and physical changes.
• Dietary supplementation may help correct these nutritional deficits, warranting further research.