Role of Oxidant/Antioxidant Status in the Pathogenesis of Iron-Deficiency Anemia: Case Study on Children of Qalyubiyya and Minoufiya Governorates, Egypt

Iron- deficiency anemia (IDA) is anemia due to insufficient iron. It is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide affecting people of all ages in both developed and developing countries. The present study aims to investigate the role of oxidative/antioxidant status in the pathogenesis of IDA through a case study on children of Qalyubiyya and Minoufiya Governorates, Egypt. 119 with IDA and 150 healthy control, boys and girls, infants and young children, aged zero months to 6 years, were selected for the study from Rural Health Units and Maternity and Child Care Centers, Qalyubiyya and Minoufiya Governorates, Egypt. Based on hematological and biochemical analysis, the mean hemoglobin (Hb) level, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), reticulocyte hemoglobin content, serum iron and serum ferritin were significantly lower in infants and young children with IDA than healthy control. The opposite direction was observed for the red blood cell distribution width (RDW). The antioxidant defense system parameters including [enzymes (glutathione peroxidase, GSH-Px; glutathione reductase, GSH-Rd; superoxide dismutase, SOD and catalase, CAT) activities and none-enzymatic levels (glutathione, GSH and vitamins A, C and E)] of infants and young children with IDA were significantly (P≤0.05) lower. While the oxidative stress parameters thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, TBARS and nitric oxide, NO2 were significantly higher than the control group. In conclusion, oxidant/antioxidant status may play a role in the Pathogenesis of Iron-Deficiency Anemia.