Glutathione peroxidase 3 is a potential biomarker for konzo.

Konzo is a neglected paralytic neurological disease associated with food (cassava) poisoning that affects the world's poorest children and women of childbearing ages across regions of sub-Saharan Africa. Despite understanding the dietary factors that lead to konzo, the molecular markers and mechanisms that trigger this disease remain unknown. To identify potential protein biomarkers associated with a disease status, plasma was collected from two independent Congolese cohorts, a discovery cohort (n = 60) and validation cohort (n = 204), sampled 10 years apart and subjected to multiple high-throughput assays.

Lower serum levels of selenium, copper, and zinc are related to neuromotor impairments in children with konzo.

We assessed the relationship between key trace elements and neurocognitive and motor impairments observed in konzo, a motor neuron disease associated with cassava cyanogenic exposure in nutritionally challenged African children. Serum concentrations of iron, copper, zinc, selenium, and neurotoxic lead, mercury, manganese, cadmium, and cobalt were measured in 123 konzo children (mean age 8.53 years) and 87 non-konzo children (mean age 9.

Determinants of cognitive performance in children relying on cyanogenic cassava as staple food.

While risk factors for konzo are known, determinants of cognitive impairment in konzo-affected children remain unknown. We anchored cognitive performance (KABC-II scores) to serum levels of free-thyroxine (free-T4), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), albumin, and motor proficiency (BOT-2 scores) in 40 children including 21 with konzo (median age: 9 years) and 19 without konzo (median age: 8 years). A multiple regression model was used to determine variables associated with changes in KABC-II scores.