No abstract

Serum antioxidant vitamins A (retinol) and E (α‐tocopherol), β‐carotene, zinc, and selenium, and cholesterol and related proteins for 170 children with newly diagnosed malignancy were measured at diagnosis and 6 months after initiation of treatment, and compared with those of 632 cancer‐free controls. Incident cancer cases and controls were 1–16 years old and recruited between 1986 and 1989. At diagnosis, age‐ and sex‐adjusted serum concentrations of retinol, β‐carotene, zinc, and α‐tocopherol were significantly inversely associated with cancer. No significant decreases in mean values were observed at 6 months, except for the α‐tocopherol–to–cholesterol ratio in patients with bone tumors and serum zinc in bone tumors and central nervous system malignancies. An increase during the period of treatment was found for retinol and selenium in leukemia patients. β‐carotene was maintained at the initial concentrations determined prior to therapy. These findings provide further information about micronutrient requirements in children with cancer. Med. Pediatr. Oncol. 29:213–217, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Age- and sex-specific reference intervals of data derived from a healthy paediatric population are presented for retinol, beta-carotene, alpha-tocopherol, cholesterol and related proteins in serum. Age was an important covariate for the micronutrient concentration values. Retinol was highly correlated with alpha-tocopherol and cholesterol. Strong correlation was found with both beta-carotene and cholesterol. Serum levels were considered for their appropriateness as indicators of micronutrient status.

Eight serum proteins were analyzed with the Behring nephelometer in samples from 479 healthy French children, ages three to 16 years. Girls had higher concentrations of IgM and albumin than boys had. Age appeared to be a main factor of variation for the proteins tested. Reference intervals are presented for IgG, IgA, IgM, albumin, transthyretin (prealbumin), retinol-binding protein, alpha 1-acid glycoprotein, and C-reactive protein. The significance of increased concentrations of C-reactive protein within a community is discussed.

Age - and sex-specific reference intervals derived from a healthy pediatric population are presented for zinc, selenium and related analytes in serum. No strong correlations were found between age, sex and trace elements in serum. Serum variables were discussed to assess their ability as biochemical indicators of micronutrient status in the field of biological epidemiology.