A Comparative Study of Serum Zinc Level between Asthmatic and Control Group

IntroductionDuring the past decade Asthma have been increased worldwide. Free radicals have been proposed to be responsible or the pathogenesis of many diseases because of their harmful effects on the cells and tissues.There are some defense mechanisms in the organism to avoid the harmful effects of free radicals. The most important antioxidants are glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase. Glutathione peroxidase has selenium and superoxide dismutase system has zinc in their structures which diminish the harmful effects of oxygen free radicals. This research was done to analyze the relation between serum zinc concentrations as antioxidant in children asthma.Materials and MethodsThis was a case study. We made comparison between 80 asthmatic patients. Who attended the pediatric allergy outpatients clinics and 80 control group children who attended the pediatric outpatient clinic for the complaints of non specific non-chronic disorders (acute upper respiratory system infection, urinary tract infection e.t.c) without any of history of atopy. None of the patients in the study used systemic or inhaled steroids and nonsterioidal anti inflammatory for the last 2 weeks. The serum zinc was measured with manual calorimetric method and then the results were compared. ResultsIn this study the overage age in case group was (6.07± 2.07 yrs) and in control group was (5.25±3.44 yrs). Therefore, no significant difference was detected. In view of gender both groups were totally identical. Mean serum zinc in patients was 93.93±25.58 mg/dl and in controls was 97.18±23.59 mg/dl; With no statistical difference (P>0.05).ConclusionIt was not approved that serum zinc concentrations were lower in the asthmatic patients than normal individuals.