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Misplaced iron in kwashiorkor

W S Dempster1, A A Sive, S Rosseau

  • 1Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa.

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition
|March 1, 1995
PubMed

Insights

Radical-promoting iron was found in the plasma of children with kwashiorkor, suggesting free radical injury plays a role in this condition. This finding may lead to improved mortality rates through iron removal strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Pediatric Nutrition
  • Clinical Medicine

Background:

  • Kwashiorkor is a severe form of malnutrition.
  • Free radicals are implicated in various disease processes.
  • Iron metabolism plays a critical role in cellular function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the presence of radical-promoting iron in children with kwashiorkor.
  • To explore the potential role of free iron in the pathogenesis of kwashiorkor.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized the bleomycin assay for quantifying free or loosely bound iron.
  • Analyzed plasma samples from children with kwashiorkor, marasmus, and healthy controls.

Main Results:

  • Non-protein-bound iron was detected in 58% of children with kwashiorkor.
  • Free iron was absent in children with marasmus and healthy controls.

Conclusions:

  • The presence of radical-promoting iron supports the hypothesis of free radical injury in kwashiorkor pathogenesis.
  • Targeting and removing this free iron may potentially improve mortality in kwashiorkor patients.
Abstract

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