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Age-dependent serum sulfate levels in children and adolescents
Insights
Serum sulfate levels in infants and children decrease significantly in the first three years of life. After age three, serum sulfate concentrations stabilize in children and adolescents, remaining consistent into adulthood.
Area of Science:
- Clinical Chemistry
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Serum inorganic sulfate is a key metabolic byproduct.
- Understanding age-related changes in serum sulfate is crucial for pediatric health assessment.
- Limited data exists on serum sulfate reference ranges across diverse pediatric age groups.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify serum inorganic sulfate levels in infants, children, adolescents, and adults.
- To establish age-dependent reference ranges for serum sulfate.
- To characterize the developmental trajectory of serum sulfate concentrations.
Main Methods:
- Serum samples (100 microliters) were deproteinized.
- Inorganic sulfate was measured using the barium-133 (133Ba) precipitation microassay.
- Study population included hospitalized infants/children (<3 yr), children (3-9 yr), adolescents (10-18 yr), and healthy adults.
Main Results:
- A significant age-dependent curvilinear regression was observed in infants and children under 3 years.
- Mean serum sulfate decreased from 0.47 mmol/l at birth to 0.33 mmol/l by 36 months.
- Serum sulfate levels stabilized around 0.33 mmol/l from 3 years of age through adolescence and into adulthood.
Conclusions:
- Serum inorganic sulfate exhibits a distinct developmental pattern, decreasing rapidly in early childhood.
- Stable serum sulfate concentrations are established by 3 years of age and maintained thereafter.
- Defined confidence intervals provide valuable reference data for pediatric and adult populations.
Abstract:
We measured inorganic sulfate in 100 microliters of deproteinized serum by microassay, using the 133Ba precipitation method. Infants and children under 3 yr (n = 46), children from 3 to 9 yr of age (n = 27) and adolescents (10-18 yr, n = 12) in a hospitalized population, and healthy adults (n = 10), were studied. An age-dependent curvilinear regression for serum sulfate characterizes the first group: the mean serum sulfate value falls from 0.47 mmol/l on the first day of life to 0.33 mmol/l at 36 months. Thereafter the mean value is about 0.33 mmol/l. The 95% confidence intervals were defined for each group.