Lipid peroxidation – antioxidant defense system in children with seasonal influenza

Introduction. Influenza remains a serious viral infection in children and has consequences for the organism.The aim of the study. To analyze the lipid peroxidation products and antioxidant defense (AOD) components level in children of two age groups with seasonal influenza.Materials and methods. We examined 141 children aged from 1 month to 6 years with a diagnosis of influenza (subgroup 1 – 1 month – 2.11 years (n = 78); subgroup 2 – 3–6 years (n = 63)), 47 children of control group (subgroup 3 – 1 month – 2.11 years (n = 17); subgroup 4 – 3–6 years (n = 30)). Spectrophotometric, fluorometric and statistical methods were used.Results. In subgroup 1 of children with influenza, there were higher levels of compounds with double bonds (p = 0.001), conjugated dienes (CDs) (p < 0.0001), ketodienes and conjugated trienes (KD and CT) (p = 0.004); in subgroup 2 of children with influenza – increased values of CDs (p < 0.0001), KD and CT (p < 0.0001) and thiobarbituric acid reactants (p < 0.0001) compared to the control. The AOD system in subgroup 1 was characterized by a decrease in the level of α-tocopherol (p < 0.0001), retinol (p < 0.0001) and higher oxidized glutathione (GSSG) values (p = 0.002) compared to the control. Children of subgroup 2 had lower values of the level of α-tocopherol (p < 0.001), retinol (p = 0.012) and total antioxidant activity (p < 0.0001) and higher values of GSSG (p = 0.035) compared to the control.Conclusion. In children with influenza, regardless of age, there is a higher level of production of lipid peroxidation indicators, a lack of fat-soluble vitamins and higher values of oxidized glutathione than in healthy children