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The Effect of Malnutrition on Protein Glycosylation in Children
Bilen, Oznur; Altun, Zekiye; Arslan, Nur; Onvural, Banu; Akan, Pinar & Coker, Canan
Abstract
Objective:
The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of protein energy malnutrition on protein
glycosylation by investigating transferrin isoform pattern and its relationship to the degree of malnutrition
and the biochemical markers of nutritional status in children.
Methods:
Forty one children with mild (n=23) and severely/moderately (n=18) acute malnutrition and 29
controls were enrolled in the study. Serum transferrin isoforms were determined by isoelectric focusing
electrophoresis. Transferrin, prealbumin, zinc, iron and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) were measured
using automated analyzers.
Findings:
Asialotransferrin and disialotransferrin were significantly higher in severely/moderately
malnourished patients compared to controls (P=0.04 and P=0.04, respectively). Other transferrin isoform
patterns were not different among three groups. Serum IGF-1, transferrin and iron levels of severely/
moderately malnourished group were significantly lower than tose of controls (P=0.001, 0.02 and 0.03,
respectively). Serum prealbumin and zinc levels were similar in all three groups. Serum IGF-1, transferrin and
iron levels, and all transferrin isoform patterns were not significantly different in mildly malnutrition group
from other two groups.
Conclusion:
The changes in transferrin isoform pattern observed in malnourished patients may indicate that
malnutrition is a catabolic state which has effects on glycosylation.
Keywords
Glycosylation; Isoelectric Focusing; Protein Energy Malnutrition; Transferrin; Isoform
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