Vitamin status of urban and rural school children and specifics of free radical reactions in their blood serum
The rate of free radical reactions is one of stress markers. The ability of the organism to resist oxidation is determined by various factors, including vitamin supply. Vitamins A, E, C and group В vitamins directly or indirectly affect the degree of antioxidant protection. We have studied vitamin supply in school children aged 12 to 17 in urban (n = 250) and rural areas (n = 200) and the rate of free radical reactions in their blood serum by induced chemiluminescence. Deficiency of vitamins A and E, which have antioxidant properties, was detected in both urban and rural school children; however, the former had a higher deficiency level. This corresponds to the chemiluminiscence assay data: all chemiluminescence assay values in urban school children were 2.2-7.6 times higher than in rural school children, which indicates a higher intensity oxidation in their bodies. A deficiency of group В vitamins was also detected in rural school children, riboflavin being an exception in a subgroup of 15 tol 7 year old subjects.