Copper/zinc superoxide dismutase activity in newborns & young people in Spain.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: There is evidence that reactive oxygen species (ROS) plays an important role in the pathophysiology of many paediatric disorders. We carried out this study to see whether superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was associated with age, sex and rural or urban status in three groups of Spanish people (newborns, children and young). METHODS: SOD activity was measured in red blood cells in newborns, children and young Spanish people (n=1212, divided in six groups) using the Minami and Yoshikawa method. RESULTS: The newborns had high levels of SOD activity, but among all age groups studied, SOD showed the highest activity in groups 1 and 2. We also observed that this activity decreased gradually with age until achieving adult levels. No significant variations with respect to sex were detected, except for the >or=14 to 18 yr age group, in which SOD activity decreased significantly in females. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: Our findings show that SOD activity in newborns, children and young Spanish people is affected by age but not by gender (except from >or=14-18 yr) or rural or urban status.