SERUM ANTIOXIDANT MINERALS STATUS IN CHILDREN WITH SICKLE CELL ANAEMIA
*Wali U., Dallatu M. K., Hadiza M. A. Alhassan H. M. and Jiya N. M. A.
ABSTRACT
Sickle cell anaemia is associated with elevated oxidative stress via increase generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and decline in antioxidant defences. Increased oxidative stress is thought to play a role in the development of sickle cell anaemia and its attendant complications. In the current study, chromium, zinc, manganese, copper and body mass index (BMI) levels were evaluated in 35 sickle cell anaemics attending the Paediatric medical clinic of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria and the results compared to those of apparently healthy non-sickle cell anaemic volunteers of comparable age and social status. Serum levels of chromium, zinc, manganese, copper and BMI were 12.43±2.92 μg/dL, 5.33±2.46 μg/dL, 11.36±3.08 μg/dL, 6.55±0.48 μg/dL, 15.16±0.64 kg/m2 and 20.44±5.93 μg/dL, 9.32±2.67 μg/dL, 17.07±4.24 μg/dL, 6.86±0.57 μg/dL, and 17.67±0.53 kg/m2 in sickle cell anaemics and non-sickle cell anaemic subjects, respectively. There was significantly (P<0.05) decreased levels of antioxidant minerals in sickle cell anaemic subjects. Age and gender did not have significant (P>0.05) effect. The results suggest that sickle cell anaemics in the study area have low serum levels of antioxidant minerals, an indication that the sickle cell anaemics are predisposed to increased oxidative onslaught.
Keywords: Sickle cell anaemia, serum chromium, copper, manganese and zinc.
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