ESTIMATION OF SERUM ZINC AND MAGNESIUM LEVELS IN SUDANESE CHILDREN UNDER FIVE YEARS WITH PROTEIN ENERGY MALNUTRITION (PEM)
Elsadig Hassan, Alfatih S. Aljafari, AbdElkarim A. Abdrabo*
ABSTRACT
Objective: To estimate serum levels of zinc and magnesium among
Sudanese children under 5 years with protein energy malnutrition
(PEM), in comparison with apparently healthy volunteers. Materials
and methods: A cross- sectional hospital based study conducted
during the period from May to September 2013. Children with PEM
were chosen from Omdurman Teaching Hospital for Pediatric. The
studied populations consist of 90 subjects: Fifty children patients less
than five years with PEM. Forty apparently healthy subjects matching age and sex were also
included as control. Results: We found significantly low serum zinc and magnesium levels in
PEM types [kwashiorkor: zinc = (0.31mg/dl), magnesium = (1.09 mg/dl), marasmus: zinc =
(0.31mg/dl), magnesium = (0.99 mg/dl), marasmic-kwashiorkor: zinc = (0.33 mg/dl),
magnesium = (0.98mg/dl)] patients as compared to control [zinc = (0.76 mg/dl), magnesium
= ( 1.92 mg/dl)], P <0.05 Conclusion: This findings can be concluded to that PEM is
associated with zinc and magnesium deficiency.
Keywords: PEM, zinc, magnesium, Sudan.
[Full Text Article]
[Download Certificate]