Blood Lead Levels in the Population Living in Algeria: A Cross-Sectional National Study.

Lead poisoning, is currently recognized as a real public health problem, The WHO classifies lead as one of 10 chemicals of serious public health concern. In Algeria and North Africa, to date, no study on the evaluation of lead impregnation has been carried out at the national level. The main objective of this work is to assess the exposure of the general Algerian population to lead. A cross-sectional study was carried out over the entire Algerian national territory, on a population aged between 3 and 74 years old. The survey lasted three years, A questionnaire, a clinical examination and a blood sample were carried out for each individual. Generalized linear regression models were used to determine the factors influencing lead levels measured in blood samples. The study population, spread over 39 wilayas and 121 districts, consists of 3674 individuals. The mean lead levels were 28.27 µg/L, the median was 22.22 µg/L, and the 95th percentile was 73.83 µg/L, Blood lead levels were influenced differently by age, gender, wilaya of residence, dietary habits such as consumption of canned food and the way in which water is conserved for daily consumption. The use of kohl has been confirmed as a potential source of lead exposure. In Algeria, a blood lead value of 75 µg/L serves as the Reference Exposure Value, guiding public health responses and risk management strategies, Recommendations have been issued to reduce the blood lead levels of the general population in Algeria in terms of limitation of lead in the sources of exposure, installation of an effective health monitoring system.

[The link between trace elements and metabolic syndrome/oxidative stress in essential hypertension with or without type 2 diabetes]. / Association du profil des minéraux traces au syndrome métabolique et au stress oxydant dans l'hypertension artérielle essentielle avec ou sans diabète de type 2.

The relationship between trace elements (TE) and essential hypertension (EH) is subtle and complex. This relationship is mediated by endothelial dysfunction, insulin resistance, oxidative stress (OS) and athero-inflammatory state. The aim of this study was to examine the TE impact; particularly selenium (Se), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) and manganese (Mn) as predictive type 2 diabetes biomarkers in a hypertensive subject. The study was undertaken on 400 adult patients (40-60 years), who were divided in 4 groups: hypertensive (H), type 2 diabetes (T2D), hypertensive-diabetic (HD) and healthy group. Patients were phenotyped regarding their metabolic syndrome profile using the NCEP/ATPIII criteria. Hypertension was defined as systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure ≥ 140/90 mmHg, respectively. The SBP and DBP measurements by electronic blood pressure using Omron 705 CP(®) type. Insulin resistance was assessed by Homa-IR model. Metabolic and inflammatory parameters were determined by Cobas Integra(®); the TE investigated by mass spectrometric atomic absorption; the OS markers evaluated by Randox kits. Serum Se concentrations are reduced in all groups, concomitantly with a marked depletion GPx activity in the HD group. However, Zn levels were decreased than in H and HD groups, but unchanged in T2D group. In contrast, Mn levels are increased in all groups; whereas the Cu levels increased only in H and HD groups, concomitantly with cytosolic SOD-Cu/Zn and mitochondrial SOD-Mn depletion. The Zn/Cu ratio decreases significantly in hypertensive group but not in diabetics groups. It appears that Zn/Cu ratio reflects the transition from hypertension phase to hypertension associated with T2D. Ultimately, TE plays an important role in the hypertension pathophysiology and can be considered as predictive T2D biomarkers in hypertensive patients.

Trace elements profile is associated with insulin resistance syndrome and oxidative damage in thyroid disorders: Manganese and selenium interest in Algerian participants with dysthyroidism.

The relationship between dysthyroidism and antioxidant trace elements (ATE) status is very subtle during oxidative stress (OS). This relationship is mediated by thyroid hormone (TH) disorder, insulin resistance syndrome (IRS) and inflammation. The aim of this study was to investigate ATE such as selenium (Se), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) status on thyroid dysfunction, and their interaction with antioxidant enzyme activities, mainly, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), TH profile (TSH, T(3), T(4)) and IRS clusters. The study was undertaken on 220 Algerian adults (30-50 years), including 157 women and 63 men who were divided to 4 groups: subclinical hypothyroidism (n = 50), overt hypothyroidism (n = 60), Graves's disease hyperthyroidism (n = 60) and euthyroid controls (n = 50). The IRS was confirmed according to NCEP (National Cholesterol Education Program). Insulin resistance was evaluated by HOMA-IR model. Trace elements were determined by the Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (Flame-AAS) technique. The antioxidant enzymes activity and metabolic parameters were determined by biochemical methods. The TH profile and anti-Thyroperoxidase Antibodies (anti-TPO-Ab) were evaluated by radioimmunoassay. Results showed that the plasma manganese levels were significantly increased in all dysthyroidism groups (p ≤ 0.01). However, the plasma copper and zinc concentrations were maintained normal or not very disturbed vs control group. In contrast, the plasma selenium levels were highly decreased (p ≤ 0.001) and positively correlated with depletion of glutathione peroxidase activity; and associated both with anti-TPO-Ab overexpression and fulminant HS-CRP levels. This study confirms the oxidative stress-inflammation relationship in the dysthyroidism. The thyroid follicles antioxidant protection appears preserved in the cytosol (Cu/Zn-SOD), while it is altered in the mitochondria (Mn-SOD), which gives this cell organelle, a status of real target therapy in thyroid dysfunction. The publisher would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused. [corrected].

[Preliminary evaluation of the antioxidant trace elements in an Algerian patient with type 2 diabetes: special role of manganese and chromium]. / Évaluation primaire du statut antioxydant oligominéral chez le patient diabétique de type 2 algérien : intérêt particulier du manganèse et du chrome.

In type 2 diabetes, the relationship between antioxidants and insuline-like trace elements is very complex during oxidative stress, being mediated by hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia and inflammation. We investigated the antioxidant status, particularly Mn and Cr on the diabetes metabolic control, and their interaction with the metabolic syndrome (MS) parameters. The study was undertaken on 278 Algerian diabetic subjects who were divided in 2 groups according to glycated hemoglobin (HbA(1c)) <7% or >7% value, attesting for a good or poor metabolic control of diabetes, respectively. The MS was defined according to NCEP-ATPIII. Insulin resistance was evaluated by HOMA-IR model. The plasma manganese concentrations was significantly increased in both diabetics groups, independently of metabolic control. However, chromium (Cr) seems to play a determinant action in metabolic control, as shown by better values of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and HbA(1c). The selenium status was positively correlated with glutathion peroxidase activity. Copper and zinc plasma levels in the diabetic patients were similar to those of control subjects. In conclusion, our results suggest that Mn play a crucial role in antioxidant capacity and we hypothesize that antioxidant defense is preserved in the cytosol (superoxide dismutase Cu/Zn -SOD), whereas it is impaired in mitochondria (Mn-SOD), which makes this cell organelle a true therapeutic target in diabetes.