EXTRACELLULAR PROTECTIVE MECHANISMS AGAINST EXCESS FREE-RADICALS IN PROTEIN ENERGY-MALNOURISHED CHILDREN

In this study the level of some of the extracellular antioxidant prote ins were investigated in 14 marasmic (M), 19 kwashiorkor (KWO), and 9 healthy children. Weight/age (W/A) and length/age (H/A) were assessed for each child. Serum level of each of ferritin, transferrin, cerulopl asmin, haptoglobin, hemopexin, and albumin were determined. W/A and H/ A z-scores for both M and KWO children were less than -4.0, whereas th ose for healthy children were normal for weight (< -1.65) but less tha n -2.0 for the length. Mean serum ferritin level was significantly inc reased above the normal level for both M and KWO groups. Mean serum le vels of the other five proteins were significantly reduced in KWO chil dren. In M children, the mean level of each of transferrin, ceruloplas min, and albumin was reduced but was still significantly higher than t hat in KWO children. By Pearson correlation analysis, serum albumin in both M and KWO children was highly significantly correlated with weig ht as well as with each of serum transferrin, ceruloplasmin, hemopexin , and haptoglobin.