[Evaluation of zinc status in patients with metabolic syndrome]

This preliminary study is an attempt to controls and to assess zinc status in a sample of metabolic syndrome patients in comparison with those of apparently healthy controls and to ascertain the relationship between zinc and metabolic syndrome features. Collection of data was carried out during the period April 2006 till January 2007, at the Medical Consultation Department, Baghdad Teaching Hospital in the Medical City, Baghdad, Iraq. In the first part of the study [a case-control study], the metabolic syndrome group, 100 metabolic syndrome patients who were chosen from patients with cardiovascular disease attending the medical examination during the period of the study. The control group includes 90 subjects who were selected from the workers of the same hospital. In the second part of the study [single blind with intervention study], metabolic syndrome patients [24 patients] divided into two groups, the first group included 12 patients supplemented with oral zinc [30 mg/day] for 50 days, and second group included 12 patients given placebo and designed as a control group. General information for each subject was obtained by questionnaire designed for the study. Waist circumference, blood pressure estimation, fasting serum glucose, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, zinc and urinary zinc/g creatinine were estimated for each subject. The first part of the study shows that the mean value for serum zinc level was significantly lower in metabolic syndrome patients than healthy controls [83.1 +/- 18.3 micro g/dl Vs 87.7 +/- 11.1 micro g/dl, p<0.05]. The mean urinary zinc levels, corrected for creatinine, were higher in metabolic syndrome patients than in controls [p<0.01] and increased linearly with the increasing number of metabolic syndrome components [r=0.252, p<0.05]. The prevalence of marginal zinc deficiency was significantly higher in metabolic syndrome group than in controls [24.0% Vs 14.4%, p<0.05]. The prevalence of raised fasting serum glucose, triglycerides and reduced high density lipoprotein cholesterol was higher in the metabolic syndrome group with low serum zinc [Zn< 70.0 micro g/dl] compared to zinc sufficient group [Zn> 70.0 micro g/dl] by 5.7%, 2 0.6% and 10.3% respectively. The second part of the study showed that the mean value of triglycerides of the zinc-supplemented group decreased at the end of 50 days by 6.2%, whereas the mean value of high density lipoprotein cholesterol increased by 13.6%. Marginal zinc deficiencies have been observed in the subjects study with a higher prevalence in metabolic syndrome group. The measured zinc status is associated with the features of metabolic syndrome

Zinc status in patients with sickle cell disease in Gezira state [central Sudan]

Sickle cell disease is inherited as an autosomal recessive manner HbS differs from HbA in the substitution of valine for glutamic acid in the sixth position of the beta-globin chain. Heterozygous state for the HbS gene. Comprises 25-45% of the total hemoglobin, the rest being Hb-A, Hb-A[2] and Hb-F. Zinc status in children with sickle cell disease was determined in 1975, the finding, showed that there was a significant decrease in zinc level in plasma, erythrocyte and hair. However, urinary zinc excretion was increased in sickle cell disease patients and is associated with decreased linear growth, skeletal growth, and muscle mass and sexual and skeletal maturation.. Information regarding zinc status in sickle cell disease in Sudanese subjects is needed. The objective of this study was to determine the zinc status in patients with sickle cell disease in addition to other related parameters including Haemoglobin level, total white blood cells count, sickling test, and identification of malaria parasite in the blood of the patients and control group. Anthropometric measurements including body weight, body height, and body mass index were also conducted. Study Design: This is a case control study designed to study zinc status in patients with Sickle Cell Disease attending Wad Medani Paediatric Teaching Hospital in Gezira State. Forty four patients diagnosed as sickle cell disease by clinical features and laboratory investigations [Hb Electrophoresis] were enrolled in this study. Fifty normal subjects were taken as control group. Patients with malnutrition and other diseases were excluded. In the present study the mean of serum zinc concentration in the patients group[40.8 +/- 20 g/microg/dl] was significantly lower than control group [55.3 +/- 32.4 microg/dl] [P <0.05]. Haemoglobin concentration in patients [6.6 + 0.9 microg/Idl] was significantly lower [P< 0.001] compared to control coup [11.1 +/- 2.1 g/dl]. The result of this study also showed that the values of TWBCs count for the patients group [16150 +/- 8196 cell / micro L] was significantly higher [P <0.001] compared to control group [5750 +/- 3537 cell micro L]. The mean body weight [16.3 +/- 8.2 kg], body height [103 +/- 26 cm], and BMIs [14.5 +/- 1.9] in the patients were significantly lower compared to control group [23.7 +/- 8.0 kg], [120 +/- 17 cm], [16.1 +/- 3.2] respectively [P <0.001]. All patients showed negative blood film for malaria parasite with the exception of only one subject, while three subjects of control group showed positive blood film for malaria parasite Zinc status in patients with sickle cell disease in central Sudan is significantly lower than that of control group. Patients had lower hemoglobin level, lower body weight and height, and higher total white blood cell count than control group. All patients showed negative blood film for malaria parasite with exception of only one subject, while three subjects of control group showed positive blood film for malaria parasite. Because of low zinc level in patients with sickle cell disease, zinc supplementation is recommended. Further studies are needed to see its effect on the different parameters

Effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on the developing kidneys

Clinical and experimental studies strongly suggest that prenatal alcohol exposure is associated with zinc deficiency and impaired renal tubular function. Whether maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy causes renal tubular cell injury is unknown. Renal function was studied in 8 infants with fetal alcohol syndrome [FAS] and 8 healthy age-matched infants. Renal function and structure were also examined in 11 offspring of rats exposed to alcohol during gestation. Infants with FAS had limited ability to concentrate urine after water restriction [P<0.001] and impaired acidification after acute acid loading [P<0.001] compared to control group. Plasma zinc levels were lower [P<0.001] and urinary zinc excretion was higher [P<0.001] in infants with FAS compared to control infants. Scanning electron microscopic studies revealed cytoplasmic mitochondrial hypertrophy and vacuolar structures of the epithelial cells of the cortical collecting ducts in the rat kidney following fetal exposure to alcohol. These findings suggest that offspring of rats exposed to alcohol during fetal life have renal functional and structural abnormalities that may be responsible in the genesis of renal functional abnormalities as described in infants with FAS

Efecto de la suplementación con hierro sobre el zinc en sangre y en orina, en mujeres gestantes: estudio preliminar / Effect of iron supplementation on blood and urinary zinc in a group of pregnant women: preliminary study

Se evaluó el efecto de la suplementación con Fe sobre la variación del Zn sanguíneo y urinario en 36 mujeres, clínicamente sanas, atendidas durante la gestación en el Hospital D. Paroissien (La Matanza, Buenos Aires). A la primera consulta (To) (edad gestacional: 17 ± 3 semanas) se realizó una encuesta de recordatorio de 24 hs., calculando la ingesta de Zn (lZn); se determinó en sangre entera, extraída en ayunas: Zn (ZnS) (espectrofotometría de absorción atómica, EAA) y Hemoglobina (Hb); en suero: ferritina (ELISA); en orina basal (la segunda de la mañana, con ayuno de líquidos y sólidos): Zn (EAA) y Creatinina (Crea), método de Jaffé. Las gestantes con Hb < 11 g/dL y aquellas con Hb > 11 g/dL, pero con ferritina < 12 ng/mL (Gfe, n =13) recibieron 100 mg/día de Fe (maltosato férrico); las mujeres con Hb > 11 g/dL y ferritina > 12 ng/mL constituyeron el grupo control (GC, n = 23). A las semanas 26 ± 2 (T1) y 35 ± 2 (Tf) se repitieron las determinaciones de laboratorio. Los promedios ± DE fueron, para GC y GFe, respectivamente: To: lZn (mg/día): 5,7 ± 2,3; 6,6 ± 4,2 (ns); Hb (g/dL):12,4 ± 0,9; 11,0 ± 1,0 (p<0,05); ferritina (ng/mL): 100 ± 81; 54 ± 40 (p <0,05); ZnS (mg/d/L): 528 ± 81; 545 ± 116; Zn/Crea (mg/g): 0,53 ± 0,34; 0,42 ± 0,33; T1; Hb(g/dL): 11,1 ± 1,3; 10,0 ± 1,4; ferritina }(ng/mL): 106 ± 108; 11 ± 3 (p < 0,05); ZnS (ug/dl): 506 ± 77; 517 ± 111; Zn/Crea (mg/g): 0,52 ± 0,16; 0,48 ± 0,23; Tf: Hb (g/dL): 10,5 ± 1,5; 10,5 ± 1,3; ferritina (ng/mL): 16 ± 12; 14 ± 9 (ns); ZnS (mg/dl): 569 ± 99; 545 ± 90; Zn/Crea (mg/g): 0,50 ± 0,10; 0,61 ± 0,29. No existieron diferencias significativas en ZnS ni en Zn/crea entre GC y GFe a To ni durante el estudio. Estos resultados indican que la administración de suplementos de Fe alejada de las comidas no afecta los niveles de Zn eritrocitario ni la eliminación urinaria basal durante la gestación en los rangos de ingesta de Zn del presente estudio.

Effect of deferiprone on urinary zinc excretion in multiply transfused children with thalassemia major.

A prospective multi-centric study was conducted to determine if iron-chelating agent deferiprone also chelates zinc. Twenty four-hour urinary zinc levels were compared in multiply transfused children with thalassemia major not receiving any chelation therapy (Group A, n = 28), those receiving deferiprone (Group B, n = 30) and age and sex-matched controls of subjects in Group B (Group C, n = 29) by a colorimetric method. The 24-hour mean urinary excretion of zinc was significantly higher in Group B than in the other two groups indicating that deferiprone chelates zinc.

Zinc status in Egyptian children with connective tissue diseases

In order to evaluate the metabolic handling of zinc in children with connective tissue diseases and to correlate zinc status among these patients with the type and activity of the disease, 52 children were enrolled in this study. A significant deficiency of plasma zinc levels was observed among patients compared with controls. Also, 2 hours after oral zinc supplementation, the mean% change of plasma zinc levels from basal values were significantly lower in patients than the controls. Concerning the 24 hours urinary zinc content, it was significantly reduced in patients compared with controls. However, the type, the activity or the duration of the disease did not influence zinc status in the patients

Urinary excretion of copper and zinc among cigarette smokers

The urinary levels of cadmium [Cd], zinc [Zn] and copper [CU] were measured among eleven adult male non-smokers and thirty-eight adult male cigarette smokers to investigate the effect of cigarette smoking on the urinary excretion of Zn and Cu in relation to urinary Cd level. The cigarette smokers were classified into two groups according to the level of urinary Cd. The first group contained thirteen cases with urinary Cd levels within the normal range of non-smokers and the urinary levels of both Zn and Cu were observed also within the same range. The second group contained twenty-five cases with elevated urinary Cd levels. The latter was further subdivided into two subgroups according to the urinary levels of Zn and Cu. The results suggested that urinary Cd at a certain level may be accompanied by increased urinary excretion of both Zn and Cu among cigarette smokers

Trace elements and electrolytes in patients with urinary tract calculi

Eighty nine male patients with urinary calculi and thirty male subjects as control group were studied and exploring for presence of some trace elements and electrolytes in urinary calculi to determine the role of these elements in the pathogenesis of urolithiasis. The patients were subdivided into 2 groups: bilharzial group [54 patients] and non bilharzial group [35 patients]. Calcium in serum and urine of patients were significantly higher than that the control group. Calcium was present as predominant element in all stone except uric acid stone. Phosphates in serum was significantly lower than the control group, while in urine was slightly low. Phosphate in stone was high in magnesium ammonium phosphate especially in non bilharzial group. Magnesium in serum and urine showed no significant difference between control and patients group. Magnesium was low in all types of stone with exception of calcium magnesium ammonium phosphate stones. Zinc in serum and urine was significantly lower in patients than control group. Zinc in all groups of stones was low. Copper in bilharzial group showed a highly significant increase in the level of serum when compared with the control group. But copper in urine showed no difference between control and other groups. Small amount of copper was present in all types of stones. magnesium and molybedenum were not detected in serum, urine and stones. uric acid was significantly higher in serum and urine of patients than control group. Serum patient albumin and A/G ratio were significantly low in all groups of patients when compared to the control group. Urinay calcium/magnesium ratio was significantly low in control than in patients. Serum sodium was low in all groups of patients. Serum potassium was high in all groups of patients. Recurrent stone were liable for infection more than de. novo stone and so treatment of infection is essential

Avaliacao do estado nutricional relativo ao zinco de criancas com diabetes mellitus insulino dependente / Valuation of nutritional status of the children with insulin - dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) in relation to zinc

O estudo teve como objetivo avaliar o estado nutricional de crianças com Diabetes Mellitus Insulino-Dependente (DMID), com ênfase específica em relaçÝo ao zinco, considerando as variáveis clínicas dos pacientes, a dieta, e o controle metabólico da doença. Foram constituídos dois grupos sendo um formado por crianças DMID (n=32) e outro CONTROLE (n=19) composto de irmÝos nÝo diabéticos. O tempo médio de duraçÝo da doença foi de 4,3 anos. A avaliaçÝo do consumo alimentar foi feita utilizando-se o registro alimentar de tres dias e a análise e adequacao das dietas foram realizadas por programa informatizado. A avaliacao do estado nutricional foi conduzida utilizando-se os índices antropométricos Peso/Idade (P/I), (Peso/Estatura (P/E) e Estatura/Idade (E/I). O controle metabólico foi investigado considerando-se as medidas de glicemia, excreçÝo urinária de glicose e HBA (1)C. O estado de nutriçÝo relativo ao zinco foi verificado pelas determinaçSes da concentraçÝo de zinco no plasma, capacidade de ligaçÝo das proteínas plasmáticas com o zinco, concentraçÝo de zinco no eritrócito e excreçÝo urinária de zinco/24 horas. Os resultados demonstraram que a dieta dos dois grupos estava deficiente em calorias, zinco e com distribuiçÝo inadequada dos macronutrientes. As crianças com DMID apresentaram controle metabólico insatisfatório e propensÝo à deficiência de crescimento linear. As concentraçSes de zinco no plasma e no eritrócito nÝo diferiram entre os grupos, apesar disto a capacidade de ligaçÝo das proteínas plasmáticas com o zinco medida em (mu)g Zn/g de proteínas, e, a excreçÝo urinária deste mineral foi significativamente maior nas crianças com DMID. Verificou-se também que a concentraçÝo de zinco no plasma aumenta linearmente com a zincúria em ambos os grupos, e que, tal efeito foi mais expressivo na presença do diabetes. Em relaçÝo ao eritrócito observou-se uma correlaçÝo inversa entre os valores de hemoglobina glicosilada e concentraçÝo de zinco nestas células. Estes dados sugerem que os pacientes com diabetes mellitus podem apresentar distúrbios no metabolismo do zinco, e, consequentemente uma deficiência intracelular deste micronutriente, principalmente quando o controle metabólico for insatisfatório

Measurement of bradykinin, protein Na+, CL-, K+, and Zn+ concentrations in rat urine after intraperitoneal injection of Tityus serrulatus venom

Experiments were carried out in vivo by injecting Tityus serrulatus crude venom in rats followed by biological assays on the isolated guinea-pig ileum, to show the effects of scorpion venom on kallikrein-kinin system. Our results showed effects such as significant decrease of total kinin rate and a decrease of total kinin rate and a decrease of Zn++, Na+, Cl- and K+ ions in rat urine 24 and 48 hours after the injection of Tityus serrulatus crude venom.

Comparison between the excretion of some metallic elements in normal and parasitized human

Twenty four hours urine samples from a total of 50 normal healthy individuals [30 males and 20 unmarried females] and a total of 70 parasitized patients [40 urinary schistosomiasis males and 30 trichomoniasis females] were analysed for zinc, copper, iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium. The results showed that urinary schistosomiasis leads to increased zinc, iron, calcium, magnesium and potassium levels but decreases the excretion of sodium, where as trichomoniasis leads to increase the excretion of zinc and sodium but decrease the excretion of copper. No significant differences were found in the biochemical element excretion between filtered and unfiltered urine samples during both infections

Serum and urine zinc response as well as C-R protein changes in severaly head injuried patients admitted in ICU

This study is a trial to detect changes in serum and urine zinc levels after severe head injury and their relation to GCS and outcome. Twenty-one patients with severe head injuries [GCS < 8] were diagnosed after the trauma. Initial neurological assessment as well as C-T were done for every case. Surgical treatment was carried out in eight cases and non-surgical treatment in the remaining cases. Zinc determination was done both in serum and urine for all patients on days one, four, seven, ten, thirteen and sixteen post-injury. Also, CRP analysis was carried out in the same days. There was hypozincemia all over the period of study, but there was gradual increase in serum zinc level from the first till the 16 days post-injury especially in cases with favorable outcome. However, this was not a uniform finding. There was hyperzincuria all over the period of study and it was increasing from the first till the 16 days post-injury especially in cases with favorable outcome. The CRP was higher initially then gradually decreased by time which indicated that the changes in serum zinc levels may be stress-induced

Limites biológicos em higiene e medicina do trabalho

O controle biológico de trabalhadores expostos a agentes químicos agressivos coloca o médico do trabalho frente a uma série de problemas conjunturais e estruturais de difícil soluçäo. A partir de pesquisa onde foram analisadas urina de 58 soldadores para determinaçäo de concentraçäo de Mg, Zn, Cu, Mn, Fe, Cd, Cr, Ni säo discutidas as dificuldades da execuçäo deste controle, incluindo aspectos ambientais. Conclui-se pela importância das avaliaçöes biológicas, mas ressaltando a prioridade para as medidas ambientais de controle dos agentes químicos