Studying some of the mineral elements and vitamins among giardiasis infected patients in Syria

ABSTRACT

Giardiasis, an intestinal protozoan infection caused by Giardia lamblia, is common in Syria especially among children aged 2-14 years-old. Effect of giardiasis on serological levels of zinc, copper and iron elements and vitamin B[12] and folic acid were assessed in this study. Two children groups were included in this research 60 children aged 2-14 years-old were diagnosed as having giardiasis by stool examinations, were enrolled as the study group. The control group consisted of 40 age-matched healthy children. Serological levels of zinc, copper and iron were measured by Colorimetric Method in all samples, and serological levels vitamin B[12] and folic acid were measured by Chemiluminescent Immunoassay. The results revealed that giardiasis increased the serological levels of copper, like other infectious agents, however zinc, and iron elements and vitamin B[12] and folic acid leurls decreased during grardasis due to malalsoyotion