Lower serum levels of selenium, copper, and zinc are related to neuromotor impairments in children with konzo

Abstract

We assessed the relationship between key trace elements and neurocognitive and motor impairments observed in konzo, a motor neuron disease associated with cassava cyanogenic exposure in nutritionally challenged African children. Serum concentrations of iron, copper, zinc, selenium, and neurotoxic lead, mercury, manganese, cadmium, and cobalt were measured in 123 konzo children (mean age 8.53 years) and 87 non-konzo children (mean age 9.07 years) using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS). Concentrations of trace elements were compared and related to performance scores on the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children, 2nd edition (KABC-II) for cognition and Bruininks-Oseretsky Test, 2nd edition (BOT-2) for motor proficiency. Children with konzo had low levels of selenium, copper, and zinc relative to controls. Selenium concentration significantly correlated with serum 8,12-iso-iPF2α-VI isoprostane (spearman r = 0.75, p < 0.01) and BOT-2 scores (r = 0.31, p = 0.00) in children with konzo. Elemental deficiency was not associated with poor cognition. Mean (SD) urinary levels of thiocyanate were 388.03 (221.75) μmol/l in non-konzo compared to 518.59 (354.19) μmol/l in konzo children (p < 0.01). Motor deficits associated with konzo may possibly be driven by the combined effects of cyanide toxicity and Se deficiency on prooxidant mechanisms. Strategies to prevent konzo may include dietary supplementation with trace elements, preferentially, those with antioxidant and cyanide-scavenging properties.

Maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy and child’s cognitive performance at 6–8 years of age in rural Burkina Faso: an observational study

“…In Africa, it has been used to study cognitive development and nutrition in Ethiopia (Bogale et al, 2013), Democratic Republic of Congo (Boivin et al, 2013; Bumoko et al, 2015) and South Africa (Taljaard et al, 2013; Rochat et al, 2016), among HIV infected children in Uganda (Boivin et al, 2010; Ruel et al, 2012; Brahmbhatt et al, 2017), and cerebral malaria in Senegal (Boivin, 2002), and Uganda (Bangirana et al, 2009). KABC-II has different sub-tests and is used in children aged 3–18 years.…”

Selecting measures for the neurodevelopmental assessment of children in low- and middle-income countries

“…HIV infected children and those with Konzo had lower motor scores than controls. BOT-2 scores correlated with a neurologic index score in children with Konzo (r = -0.43, p<0.0001), no other psychometric results of the BOT-2 were provided in these studies (Boivin, Okitundu, et al, 2013; Buomoko et al, 2015). …”

“…The Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (second edition) (BOT-2) (Bruininks & Bruininks, 2005) has been used to assess motor skills in HIV infected children and in children with Konzo disease in sub-Sahara Africa (Buomoko et al, 2015). HIV infected children and those with Konzo had lower motor scores than controls.…”

Selenium Content and Antioxidant Potential of Some Edible Wild Mushrooms from Bandundu Area, DR Congo

“…Bumoko et al (2015) reported that selenium deficiency contributes to the pathogenesis of konzo through mechanisms that are responsible for oxidative damage [19].…”