Association of Parkinson's disease with altered serum levels of lead and transition metals among South Indian subjects.

Several epidemiologic studies have suggested an association between the Parkinson’s disease (PD) and exposure to heavy metals, such as lead, iron, copper, manganese, etc. A growing body of evidence suggests that heavy metals stimulate free radical formation in the brain and can lead to neurodegeneration. In the present study, we investigated whether such association exists in PD cases from rural and urban areas in our study population. The plasma levels of copper, iron, manganese and lead in PD cases (n = 150) and controls (n = 170) were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and correlated with the oxidative stress markers like malondialdehyde (MDA), protein carbonyl and total glutathione. Results indicated significant increase in the levels of copper (17.73 ± 4.48 vs. 13.0 ± 3.22 ng/ml) and iron (554.4 ± 123.8 vs. 421.7 ± 126.1 ng/ml) in PD cases compared to controls, whereas no significant differences in the levels of manganese and lead were observed. Further, the data based on urban or rural residence showed that plasma copper, iron, manganese levels were comparatively higher in rural subjects, whereas plasma lead levels were significantly higher in urban subjects. Increased plasma iron showed positive correlation with marker of lipid peroxidation (MDA), suggesting that increased iron levels induced oxidative stress in PD. These results substantiated the earlier observations about the role of environmental exposure and metal-induced oxidative stress in the etiology of PD.

Estado nutricional, ferro, cobre e zinco em escolares de favelas da cidade de São Paulo / Nutritional status, iron, copper, and zinc in school children of shantytowns of Sao Paulo

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a antropometria, a composição corporal e o estado nutricional em ferro, cobre e zinco segundo o gênero, de crianças e adolescentes institucionalizados, moradores de duas favelas da cidade de São Paulo. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal utilizando medidas de peso, estatura, circunferência braquial, dobras cutâneas, bioimpedância elétrica, os escores Z da relação estatura para idade, índice de massa corporal, área do braço, área muscular do braço e área de gordura do braço. Os percentuais de gordura corporal e massa magra foram analisados segundo fórmulas de Siri e Slaughter. Foram determinados hemoglobina, hematócrito, ferro, ferritina, cobre e zinco séricos. RESULTADOS: Foram maiores o peso corporal, circunferência do braço, dobras cutâneas do tríceps e subescapular, resistência elétrica, escores Z da área do braço, área muscular do braço e percentual de gordura corporal no sexo feminino em relação ao masculino. Baixa estatura foi encontrada em 8 por cento das meninas e 5,6 por cento dos meninos, sem diferença quanto ao gênero. Houve menor prevalência de desnutrição (2 por cento das meninas e 5,6 por cento nos meninos), do que de sobrepeso e obesidade (30 por cento e 11,2 por cento, respectivamente). Observou-se anemia em 24,4 por cento e ferropenia em 10,5 por cento dos escolares com ou sem anemia. Apresentaram valores abaixo do limite inferior do padrão de referência para cobre e zinco séricos, respectivamente três e sete indivíduos. CONCLUSÃO: Na população estudada, de baixo nível econômico e institucionalizada, ocorre o processo de transição nutricional e alta prevalência de anemia que não resulta da interação ferro, cobre e zinco.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the anthropometry, body composition and iron, copper and zinc nutritional status, according to gender, of institutionalized children and adolescents living in two shantytowns in the city of Sao Paulo. METHODS: A cross sectional study using weight, height, arm circumference, skinfolds, electrical bioimpedance, Z scores for the relationships: height to age, body mass index, middle-upper arm circumference, muscle area of the arm and fat area of the arm was carried out; the body fat and lean mass percentages were analyzed according to the formulas proposed by Siri and Slaughter. Hemoglobin, hematocrit, serum iron ferritin, copper and zinc were determined. RESULTS: Body weight, middle-upper arm circumference, triceps and subescapular skinfolds, electric resistance, Z scores of the arm area, muscle area of the arm, and body fat percentage of girls were higher in relation to boys. Low stature was found in 8 percent of the girls and in 5.6 percent of the boys, without differences according to gender. There was a lower prevalence of malnutrition (2 percent of the girls and 5.6 percent of the boys), than of overweight and obesity (30 percent and 11.2 percent, respectively). Anemia was observed in 24.4 percent and iron deficiency in 10.5 percent of the schoolchildren with or without anemia. Values were below the lower limit of the reference standard for serum copper and zinc, respectively, for 3 and 7 individuals. CONCLUSION: In the studied population, institutionalized and of low social economic level, a process of nutritional transition and high prevalence of anemia takes place which does not result from an interaction of iron, copper and zinc.