Association of socioeconomic stratification with plasmatic markers of lipoperoxidation and antioxidants in Venezuelan school-age children.

Objetive: To establish association between socioeconomic status and plasmatic markers of lipoperoxidation and antioxidants in Venezuelan school-age children from the middle-class and in critical poverty.

Methods: Cross-sectional study with a sample of 114 school-age children (aged 7-9). The socioeconomic status, dietary intake of macro and micro-nutrients, weight, height, lipid profile, indicators of lipid peroxidation and enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants were determined.

Results: The daily average intake of energy, carbohydrates and vitamin A, and the percentage of energy obtained from carbohydrates was significantly higher in middle-class children compared to critical poverty children ( <0.05). The circulating oxidized low density lipoprotein ( <0.001) and the susceptibility of low density lipoproteins and very low density lipoproteins to oxidation ( <0.05) were significantly higher in middle-class children, while the critical poverty children showed significantly lower levels of Vitamin C and E in plasma ( <0.05). Non-enzymatic antioxidant levels were frequently deficient in both strata. The concentrations of circulating oxidized low density lipoprotein (OR: 1.09, CI : 1.016-1.179; = 0.017) and Vitamin C (OR: 3.21, CI : 1.104-9.938; = 0.032) were associated to the socioeconomic status independently of gender, family history of premature coronary artery disease, triglicerides, Vitamin C and E dietary intake and count of white blood cells.

Conclusion: The socioeconomic status was associated to circulating oxidized low density lipoprotein and Vitamin C in Venezuelan school-age children, The results suggested the need to improve the dietary intake of antioxidants in both studied socioeconomic groups.