Genotoxic effects of malnutrition and infections in argentinean children

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between malnutrition, bacterial infections and citogenetic damage. In order to obtain the frequencies of structural chromosomal aberrations (SCAs) in peripheral blood lymphocytes, we sample malnourished and eutrophic children with and without bacterial infections. Fifty infants concurrent to the Hospital Interzonal de Agudos y Crónicos Dr. Alejandro Korn, La Plata, Argentina were included in this study; 14 malnourished and non-infected (MN), 11 malnourished and infected (MI), 18 eutrophic and non-infected (EN) and 7 eutrophic and infected (EI). Children aged 1-60 months. Anthropometric and clinic evaluation were performed to assess nutritional condition. Before blood collection, we interviewed each individual´s parent to complete a semistructural survey specifying age, dietary habits, bacterial diseases; previous exposure to diagnostic x-rays; and use of therapeutic drugs. After 48 hours, 100 cultured lymphocytes were analyzed per individual. Statistical analysis was performed by the Epi Info 6.0, through the Pearson χ2 Test (p<0.05). No significant differences were found in total SCA frequency between MN and MI (14.2% vs. 15.1%). In MN children the total SCA frequency was four times higher than that of EI ones (14.2% vs. 3.33% p<0.001), and eight times higher than that of NE ones (14.2 vs 1.8 <0.001). As well, in MI children the total SCA frequency was five times higher than that of EI ones (15.1% vs. 3.33% p<0.001) and eight times higher than that of EN ones (15.1 vs 1.8 <0.001). Meanwhile the total SCA frequency was two times greater in EI than in EN children (3.33% vs. 1.88% p<0.05). Results presented here showed an increase frequency of SCA not only in relation with malnutrition but also with the presence of bacterial infections. However the effect of malnutrition was more important than the other. It is difficult to discern whether structural chromosome aberrations are due to malnutrition per se, bacterial or viral infections, or all of these factors acting on malnourished tissues. DNA damage could be attributed to several reasons: severe deficiency of essential nutrients (ie zinc, iron, and vitamin A) required in the synthesis of DNA maintenances factors; deterioration of repair mechanisms; and/or the absence of specific substances needed to protect the cell against oxidative DNA damage. In conclusion, mutagenic agents cause chromosomal changes more easily in an altered environment.