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Zinc‐Copper Superoxide Dismutase Concentrations are Related to Altitude in Young Ecuadorian Children with Mild‐Moderate Stunting
Author(s) -
Sempértegui Fernando,
Wuehler Sara E.,
Giulivi Cecilia,
Brown Kenneth H.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.5.a725-a
Subject(s) - ceruloplasmin , superoxide dismutase , altitude (triangle) , anthropometry , copper , zinc , zoology , effects of high altitude on humans , chemistry , medicine , biology , biochemistry , antioxidant , geometry , mathematics , organic chemistry , anatomy
Background : It is not known whether superoxide dismutase (SOD) concentrations change with increasing altitude and decreasing ambient oxygen pressure. Methods : We conducted cross‐sectional analyses of erythrocyte copper‐zinc SOD (ESOD) activity and other biochemical indicators in non‐severely anemic 12–30 mo old children with mild‐moderate stunting and living at different altitudes: El Carmen, ~300 meters (m), Latacunga, ~2800 m, and Quito barrios, ~3000+ m.Results : Site means were significantly different for ESOD (p=0.002), age, anthropometry, and plasma concentrations of copper, ceruloplasmin (Cp) and HDL, but not for plasma concentrations of zinc, ferritin or total cholesterol. None of these covariates had a significant effect on the differences in ESOD by site, and mean ESOD remained different by site (p<0.02) even after controlling for copper and Cp. Conclusions : ESOD concentrations were lower among children living at higher altitude, even after controlling for other indicators of copper status, suggesting a possible independent effect of altitude on ESOD concentration. Funding: USDA, USAID, UNICEF, FARMA