Abstract
BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress is an imbalance between the reactive oxygen species and antioxidant system. In this study, total oxidative stress (TOS) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were investigated with a new and practical method in childhood iron-deficiency anemia. METHOD: During the study period 80 children between 6 and 60 months were enrolled; 40 children (study group) had iron-deficiency anemia, and 40 children (control group) were healthy. Complete blood count, serum iron, iron-binding capacity, ferritin levels, TOS, and TAC were evaluated. Children diagnosed iron-deficiency anemia were treated with oral ferric iron. After 2 months of the treatment, blood tests of the study groups were repeated to check the challenge. RESULTS: TAC was similar between both groups (1.55 ± 0.26 in control group 1.53 ± 0.19 mmol Trolox Eq./l). Additionally, TOS was significantly higher in iron-deficiency anemia group before treatment with iron (24.3 ± 18.5, in controls groups 14.4 ± 7.1 mmol Trolox Eq./l). We have shown that TAC did not change (before treatment 1.55 ± 0.26, after treatment 1.54 ± 0.26 mmol Trolox Eq./l) although TOS decreased significantly after the treatment of iron-deficiency anemia (before treatment 24.3 ± 18.5, after treatment 12.4 ± 6.9 mmol Trolox Eq./l). We did not find any correlation between hemoglobin, serum iron, iron-binding capacity, ferritin levels, and TOS or TAC among iron-deficiency anemia patients. CONCLUSION: As a result of this study, oxidative stress increases in children with iron-deficiency anemia and this increase can be returned to normal levels by treatment.