Microelement imbalance in children as a marker of environmental unfavorability and the development of digestive system diseases in children

Introduction. In the era of intensive technological progress and increasing anthropogenic impact, children and adults of the country are faced with an increase in the volume of harmful emissions into the atmosphere, water bodies and soil. This, in turn, can lead to an increase in chronic diseases, especially among the younger generation. In this regard, it becomes relevant to study the microelement status of a child as one of the biomarkers of the development of a wide range of chronic diseases. Objective of the study. To optimize the early diagnosis of chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract by assessing the state of macro- and microelement status in children depending on the ecological state of the environment. Materials and methods. The study was conducted in several stages. At the first stage, the microelement composition of the hair of 186 people with various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, living in the territories of the Krasnodar Territory with varying degrees of environmental pollution, was studied. Of these, there were 64 boys (34.4%), the average age of 10.2 ± 1.7, and 122 girls (65.6%), the average age of 7.6 ± 2.1. At stage II, the state of the environment in various territories of the Krasnodar Territory was assessed. The study of the influence of the ecological state of the environment on the development of digestive diseases was carried out by determining their relationship with environmental pollutants. Results and discussion. Among the diseases of the digestive tract in children of the Krasnodar Territory, the leading ones are stomach diseases (16077-46.6%) and cholelithiasis (13134-38.1%). In 95% of cases, unfavorable environmental conditions were a risk factor for the development of chronic gastroduodenitis (OR = 1.47, CI 1.32-1.87) and cholelithiasis (OR = 1.52, CI 1.22-1.73). The increase in diseases of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum, liver and bile ducts is significantly affected by soil pollution with pesticides and household waste (t=2.30, p≤0.05 and 4.66, p≤0.01; t=2.60, p≤0.05 and t=3.13, p≤0.01; t=2.06, p≤0.05 and t=1.72, p≤0.003, respectively), and intestinal diseases are affected by soil pollutants with pesticides (t=2.39, p≤0.05). In addition, the ecological state of the environment in 95% of cases is a risk factor for the accumulation of the conditionally essential microelement arsenic (OR = 2.3, CI 1.24-3.12), essential elements - chromium and selenium (OR = 3.14; CI 1.21-3.48 and OR = 1.5; CI 1.29-2.18, respectively). Conclusion. The main pollutant that influences the development of gastrointestinal diseases are pesticides. In this regard, in areas with an unfavorable environmental background, it is necessary to develop individual programs for monitoring and rehabilitation among the child population with gastrointestinal diseases. The study of macro- and microelement status in children can serve as a marker of early manifestations of gastrointestinal diseases in children, which in turn will not only help prevent the disease, but also improve the child’s health in general.

morbidity, microelementoses, ecological state of the environment, children

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