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Glyoxalase I activity in erythrocytes from severely malnourished children
1Tropical Metabolism Research Unit, U.W.I., Jamaica.
Insights
Glyoxalase I (Glyox I) enzyme activity is generally unaffected in malnourished children, except in severe marasmic-kwashiorkor cases. Critically low Glyox I levels were observed in non-surviving patients, suggesting its importance in severe malnutrition outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Nutritional Science
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Glyoxalase I (Glyox I) is a crucial enzyme in metabolic detoxification, utilizing glutathione (GSH) as a cofactor.
- Children with oedematous malnutrition often exhibit low whole blood GSH concentrations, potentially impairing the glyoxalase pathway.
- This study investigates Glyox I activity in erythrocytes of malnourished children to assess pathway function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine Glyoxalase I activity in erythrocytes of severely malnourished children.
- To compare Glyox I activity across different malnutrition subtypes (marasmus, kwashiorkor, marasmic-kwashiorkor) and controls.
- To explore the relationship between Glyox I activity, GSH levels, and patient survival.
Main Methods:
- Erythrocyte Glyoxalase I activity was measured using spectrophotometric assays.
- 133 severely malnourished children and 21 age-matched healthy children served as subjects.
- Statistical analyses were performed to compare enzyme activity between groups and correlate with GSH levels.
Main Results:
- Mean Glyox I activity was comparable between controls, marasmus, and kwashiorkor groups.
- Significantly lower Glyox I activity was observed in the marasmic-kwashiorkor group compared to controls and other malnutrition types (p < 0.005).
- Forty-five percent of the marasmic-kwashiorkor patients exhibited reduced Glyox I activity, and extremely low levels were noted in non-surviving children.
Conclusions:
- Glyoxalase I activity is largely preserved in most forms of severe malnutrition.
- A significant reduction in Glyox I activity characterizes marasmic-kwashiorkor, particularly in non-survivors.
- The glyoxalase system's function may be compromised in the most severe malnutrition cases, impacting patient prognosis.
Abstract:
The enzyme glyoxalase I (Glyox I) is involved in metabolic detoxification, and requires glutathione (GSH) as a cofactor. Given the low concentration of whole blood GSH in children with oedematous malnutrition, it is possible that the function of this pathway may be compromised in these children. Glyox I activity was therefore assayed in erythrocytes taken from 133 severely malnourished children and 21 age-matched controls. The mean values (+/- SEM) for the marasmic group (Marasmus: 105 +/- 4/u/gm Hb) and the group with kwashiorkor (Kwash: 103 +/- 4/u/gm Hb) were not significantly different from controls (Cont: 104 +/- 2 u/gm Hb). In the group with marasmic-kwashiorkor (M-K: 88 +/- 4 u/g Hb) Glyox I activity was significantly lower than in controls (p < 0.005), as well as in children with Marasmus (p < 0.005), and kwashiorkor (p < 0.05). Enzyme activity was lower than normal in 45% of the MK group. Seven children died subsequent to admission; in five cases Glyox I activities were exceedingly low. There was a weak positive correlation between Glyox I activity and whole blood levels of GSH (r = 0.215). We conclude that Glyox I activity is relatively unaffected in malnutrition, except in those with M-K and especially those who do not survive the acutely malnourished state.