Serum Concentration of Antioxidant Minerals in Cataract Patients

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To determine the levels of antioxidant minerals in serum of normal subjects and patients with cataract. METHODS: Concentrations of antioxidant minerals such as selenium, manganese, copper, zinc were measured with atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) 4110ZL in serum of 45 normal subjects (group 1) and 34 patients (group 2) with cataract, and Cu/Zn ratio was calculated. RESULTS: Serum concentrations of copper were 108.9 +/- 5.48 (male) and 106.9 +/- 5.25 microgram/dl (female) in group 1, 100.9 +/- 5.87 (male), 105.6 +/- 3.68 microgram/dl (female) in group 2, respectively. For zinc they were 105.8 +/- 7.33 (male) and 103.7 +/- 4.24 microgram/dl (female) in group 1, 80.0 +/- 5.78 (male) and 95.1 +/- 6.18 microgram/dl (female) in group 2, respectively. Zn/Cu ratio were 0.98 +/- 0.02 (male) and 1.05 +/- 0.08 (female) in group 1, 1.58 +/- 0.29 (male) and 1.19 +/- 0.09 (female) in group 2, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Serum zinc concentration in male was significantly lower in cataract patients than in normal subjects (p<0.01). Cu/Zn ratio was lower in cataract patients than in normal subjects in male, but not in female. Further nutrional survey is necessary to determine the relationship between level of antioxidant minerals and development and progression of cataract.