Related Experiment Videos
Selenium in malnourished Sudanese children: status and interaction with clinical features
M A Salih1, E F Mohamed, V Galgan
1Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, Sudan.
Insights
Plasma selenium levels were significantly lower in malnourished Sudanese children, especially those with kwashiorkor. Selenium status correlates positively with albumin, hemoglobin, and packed cell volume in these children.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional biochemistry
- Pediatric medicine
- Clinical science
Background:
- Malnutrition, particularly in children, is a significant global health concern.
- Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element with critical roles in immune function and antioxidant defense.
- Low selenium levels have been associated with various health issues, including compromised immune responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate plasma selenium concentrations in malnourished Sudanese children.
- To compare selenium levels between children with different forms of malnutrition and those with tuberculosis.
- To explore the relationship between plasma selenium and hematological parameters (hemoglobin, packed cell volume) and plasma albumin.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study involving 53 malnourished Sudanese children (age 6-36 months), 11 children with tuberculosis, and 12 healthy controls.
- Measurement of plasma selenium (Se), hemoglobin (Hb), and packed cell volume (PCV).
- Analysis of plasma albumin levels in different study groups.
Main Results:
- Significant differences in mean plasma Se levels were observed across the groups (p < 0.002).
- The oedematous malnutrition group (kwashiorkor/marasmic kwashiorkor) exhibited significantly lower plasma Se compared to other groups.
- Positive correlations were found between plasma Se and albumin (r = 0.46), Hb (r = 0.37), and PCV (r = 0.36).
Conclusions:
- Plasma selenium deficiency is prevalent in malnourished Sudanese children, particularly in cases of kwashiorkor.
- Selenium status is closely linked to nutritional status and hematological parameters in this vulnerable population.
- These findings highlight the importance of assessing and addressing selenium status in pediatric malnutrition.
Abstract:
Plasma selenium (Se), haemoglobin (Hb) and packed cell volume (PCV) were measured in 53 malnourished Sudanese children, age 6-36 months, and 11 children who had tuberculosis. Twelve healthy well-nourished children served as controls. The mean (+/- SD) plasma Se (mg/kg) was 0.05 (0.036), 0.070 (0.040), 0.063 (0.015), 0.73 (0.012), 0.082 (0.014) in children with kwashiorkor/marasmic kwashiorkor (oedematous group), marasmus, tuberculosis and healthy controls. The mean Se level in the various groups showed a significant difference (p < 0.002). Whereas the oedematous group differed significantly from the rest, there was no difference between the means of the marasmic, underweight, tuberculosis patients and controls. The mean plasma albumin (+/- SD) in oedematous group was 19.6 (6.6) g/l and ranged between 22.6 (5.0) and 33.1 (3.0) in the other groups. A significant positive correlation was found between plasma Se level, albumin, Hb and PCV (respectively, r = 0.46, p < 0.0001; r = 0.37, p < 0.001; r = 0.36, p < 0.002).