Trace Element Analyses (Zinc and Selenium) in Pediatric Malignant Lymphomas

Ninetysix untreated patients with Malignant lymphoma’s, 81 Hodgkin’s disease and 15 Burkitt’s lymphoma were studied for zinc (Zn) and selenium (Se) status. Plasma and hair Zn, and Se levels were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Chronic Zn and Se deficiencies (low plasma and low hair Zn and Se levels together) were found to be associated with Malignant lymphoma’s in Turkish children. This was most likely due to poor “nutritional environment” of the patients since majority of the Malignant lymphoma cases were from low socioeconomic class. Supplemention of the patients with physiological doses of Zn and Se, in addition to standard chemo radiotherapy regimen was proposed.