Levels of Serum Copper, Iron and Zinc along with Serum Total Proteins and Fractions in Diseased Malnourished Children of 4-12 Years of Age

摘要

The study was conducted to find out the differences in serum copper (Cu), Iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn) and serum proteins in children of different degrees of malnutrition as a result of some disease. For this purpose a total of 100 children of school going age (4-12 years) having 85 malnourished and 15 apparently healthy were selected. Results revealed that serum Fe and Cu were significantly or relatively higher in malnourished than apparently healthy children irrespective of age, sex, socio-economic status or area of living. The levels of serum Zn, however, showed non-significant difference between malnourished and apparently healthy children. Serum levels of total proteins and globulins were lower (significantly or relatively) in malnourished children than control irrespective of age, sex, socio-economic status and area of living. The results of albumin were variable in these groups. The decrease in serum total proteins and globulins in male malnourished children were significant than male control while it were non-significant among females. The means of serum Cu, Zn and Fe in severely malnourished males and females were 48.61; 80.40; 50.00; 48.20; 227.15; 229.40μg 100 ml ￣1, respectively. These in children of low and middle socio-economic status were 58.30; 90.00; 47.80; 58.67; 240.15; 148.00μg 100 ml￣1, respectively. While in severely malnourished children of three age groups (4-6, 7-9 and 10-12 years) were 38.25; 81.00; 71.55; 50.50; 46.66; 49.77; 224.88; 155.00; 279.78 μg 100 ml￣1 respectively. It can be concluded that serum Cu and Fe increases, while serum total proteins and globulins decreases in children of 4-12 years of age suffering from disease malnutrition.