Paraoxonase, total antioxidant activity and peroxide levels in marasmic children:: Relationships with leptin

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the oxidant/antioxidant status, paraoxonase (PON) activity and leptin. levels in children with marasmic malnutrition. Design and methods: Thirty marasmic children (age 14.4 +/- 10.3. months) and 28 control subjects were included; Plasma PON activity, total antioxidant activity (TAO), total peroxide (TPX) and leptin,levels were measured. Results: Malnourished children had significantly. lower leptin.(3.6 +/- 1.1. vs. 11.8 +/- 4.5 ng/mL, P < 0.001), PON. activity (66.4 +/- 28.6 vs. 2213 +/- 31.6 IU/L, P < 0.001) and. TAO (1.44 +/- 0.12 vs. 2.45 +/- 0.61 mmol Trolox equiv/L, P < 0.001); and higher TPX (15.6 +/- 6.4 vs. 5.9 +/- 1.9 mu mol/L, P < 0.001) values than,in controls. Significant negative correlation was found between PON and TPX (P=0.040) and positive correlation between TAO and BMI (P= 0.034) in patients. No significant correlation was found between leptin and oxidam/antioxidant parameters (P > 0.05). Conclusions: Children with marasmic. malnutrition had increased. pro-oxidant and decreased antioxidant status. Extent of oxidative stress increases with malnutrition severity.. Antioxidants could be given during nutritional rehabilitation., (c) 2007 The Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.