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Hair copper and zinc concentrations in handicapped children treated with anticonvulsants
Insights
Handicapped children on certain medications showed lower hair copper and hemoglobin levels. Diazepam use was linked to significantly reduced hair zinc, suggesting a potential deficiency.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Pediatrics
- Clinical Nutrition
Background:
- Handicapped children often have altered nutritional profiles.
- Anticonvulsant medications can affect trace element metabolism.
- Copper and zinc are essential trace elements crucial for various bodily functions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate hair copper and zinc levels in institutionalized handicapped children.
- To compare these levels between children on different anticonvulsant regimens and controls.
- To assess the potential impact of diazepam on zinc status.
Main Methods:
- Hair samples were collected from 95 handicapped children (aged 4-17) and 48 controls.
- Children were categorized into five groups based on medication: untreated, phenytoin/phenobarbital, phenytoin/phenobarbital/diazepam, diazepam alone, and phenobarbital alone.
- Hair copper, zinc, and erythrocyte hemoglobin levels were measured.
Main Results:
- All patient groups exhibited lower hair copper and erythrocyte hemoglobin compared to controls (p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively).
- Children receiving diazepam (alone or with other anticonvulsants) showed significantly lower hair zinc levels (p<0.05).
- Diet provided 75% of control copper but sufficient zinc.
Conclusions:
- Handicapped children, particularly those on anticonvulsants, may have suboptimal copper and zinc status.
- Diazepam appears to induce zinc deficiency in this population.
- Further research is warranted to confirm diazepam's role in zinc depletion and its clinical implications.
Abstract:
Hair copper and zinc contents were measured in 95 handicapped children aged from 4 to 17 years and 48 age- and sex-matched control children. The patients consisted of 5 groups: children untreated with anticonvulsants (n = 7), those treated with phenytoin and phenobarbital (n = 32), those treated with phenytoin, phenobarbital and diazepam (n = 18), those treated with diazepam alone (n = 16) and those treated with phenobarbital alone (n = 12). The patients were all institutionalized in the same medical care unit and received the same diet, containing decreased amounts of copper (75% of control) and sufficient amounts of zinc. The patients belonging to all of the 5 groups had less amounts of hair copper (p less than 0.05) and erythrocyte hemoglobin (p less than 0.01) in comparison to controls. The patients receiving diazepam alone or in addition to other anticonvulsants had significantly less hair zinc content (p less than 0.05) in comparison to controls or other patient groups. Thus, diazepam seemed to have an adverse effect, producing zinc deficiency.