Copper Status of Very Low Birth Weight Infants during the First 12 Months of Infancy

Anemia affects a substantial portion of the world's population, provoking severe health problems as well as important economic losses to the region in which this condition is found. This study was designed to compare the levels of essential trace and toxic elements in scalp hair, blood, and urine samples of anemic children (n = 132) with age range 1-5 and 6-10 years of both genders. For a comparative study, 134 non-anemic age- and sex-matched children as control subjects, residing in the same city, were selected. The metals in the biological samples were measured by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry/electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry prior to microwave-assisted acid digestion. The proposed method was validated using certified reference samples of hair, blood, and urine. The results indicated significantly lower levels of iron, copper, and zinc in the biological samples as compared to the control children of both genders (p = 0.01-0.008). The mean values of lead and cadmium were significantly high in all three biological samples of anemic children as compared to non-anemic children of both age groups (p = 0.005-0.001). The ratios of essential metal to toxic metals in the biological samples of anemic children of both age groups were significantly lower than that of controls. Deficiency of essential trace metals and high level of toxic metals may play a role in the development of anemia in the subjects under study.

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“…Copper is [41]. A deficiency of either Fe or Cu will result in anemia, namely, Fe deficiency anemia or Cu deficiency anemia.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Evaluation of Status of Trace and Toxic Metals in Biological Samples (Scalp Hair, Blood, and Urine) of Normal and Anemic Children of Two Age Groups

Shah

Kazi

Afridi

et al. 2010

Biol Trace Elem Res

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“…In a recent longitudinal study, LBW infants had compromised Cu status (as assessed by low erythrocyte CuZn‐superoxide dismutase (CuZn‐SOD) activity) that persisted through the 100 days tested and this was associated with increased oxidative damage to DNA [52]. LBW infants with the largest weight gains in the first 6 months of life are characterized by low erythrocyte SOD activity indicating that the potential for Cu depletion may be higher in rapidly growing LBW infants [53]. Additionally, LBW infants receiving high Fe supplements show low erythrocyte SOD activity, which reflects altered Cu metabolism [54].…”

Section: Secondary Cu Deficienciesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of copper on early development: Prenatal and postnatal considerations

et al. 2010

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Copper (Cu) is an essential nutrient whose requirement is increased during pregnancy and lactation. These represent times of critical growth and development, and the fetus and neonate are particularly vulnerable to deficiencies of this nutrient. Genetic mutations that predispose the offspring to inadequate stores of Cu can be life threatening as is observed in children with Menkes disease. During the last decade, severe Cu deficiency, once thought to be a rare condition, has been reported in the literature at an increasing frequency. Secondary Cu deficiencies can be induced by a variety of ways such as excessive zinc or iron intake, certain drugs, and bariatric surgery. Premature and low birth weight infants can be born with low Cu stores. A number of mechanisms can contribute to the teratogenicity of Cu including decreased activity of select cuproenzymes, increased oxidative stress, decreased nitric oxide availability, altered iron metabolism, abnormal extracellular matrix protein crosslinking, decreased angiogenesis and altered cell signaling among others. The brain, heart, and vessels as well as tissues such as lung, skin and hair, and systems including the skeletal, immune, and blood systems, are negatively affected by suboptimal Cu during development. Additionally, persistent structural, biochemical, and functional adverse effects in the offspring are noted even when Cu supplementation is initiated after birth, supporting the concept that adequate Cu nutriture during pregnancy and lactation is critical for normal development. Although Cu-containing IUDs are an effective method for increasing intrauterine Cu concentrations and for reducing the risk of pregnancy, high amounts of dietary Cu are not thought to represent a direct developmental risk.

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“…Indeed, van Zoeren-Grobben reported that infants fed human milk had higher plasma trapping ability, a measure of resistance to oxidative stress in vitro, than did control infants who were formula fed (15). This may be due to the presence of antioxidant enzymes glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (Cat), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) present in human milk, but not in formula (16), which in addition to their antioxidant effect in the gut may pass through the porous neonatal intestine early in infancy (13).…”

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confidence: 99%