Zinc‐Copper Superoxide Dismutase Concentrations are Related to Altitude in Young Ecuadorian Children with Mild‐Moderate Stunting

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