The Status of Trace Elements in Malnourished Children in Nyala City, Southern Darfur, Sudan

Abstract

Malnutrition is a massive global public health problem that remains a major cause of child mortality worldwide and may also cause growth failure. Serum trace element disturbances in malnourished children may be subclinical but become obvious during diarrheal illness. This study aimed to determine the serum zinc, copper, magnesium, calcium, and albumin levels among malnourished children. A cross-sectional hospital-based study was conducted at Nyala Teaching Hospital, Southern Darfur, Sudan. During the period from April 2020 to June 2021. A total of one hundred children diagnosed with moderate acute malnutrition MAM presented to the Pediatric Clinic of Malnutrition at Nyala Teaching Hospital. Serum parameters of albumin, calcium, and magnesium were estimated using (Mindray-200, China), while serum copper and zinc were measured by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry AAS.  The data were analyzed using SPSS version (21.0). Malnourished children 52(52%) female and 48(48%) male. Mother of malnourished 78(78%) of mothers were normal BMI >18.5 kg/m² and the other 22% were <18.5 kg/m². Serum minerals and albumin among malnourished children were significantly lower when compared with the reference value p - value of all (< 0.05). Serum parameters of trace elements were not affected by gender, age, and with and without malaria.  Correlation between serum minerals (zinc, copper, Calcium and Magnesium) and BMI was positively correlated p-value = (0.001, 0.001, 0.001, 0.001), respectively. Serum trace elements were found to be low among malnourished children, but were not affected by (gender, age, with and without malaria). Mineral levels should be measured in all malnourished cases to detect their asymptomatic imbalance. Correlations between BMI and serum mineral levels were positive.