RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: It has been reported that the role of some minor elements plays a significant role in the formation of gallstones. The relationship between minor and trace element concentrations was established in the present investigation and the trace element profile of the current investigation was compared with the literature values of south Indian gallstone samples in order to determine their possible role in stone formation and growth. The rate of weight loss and classification of cholesterol type of gallstones were also investigated by thermal analysis. BASIC METHODS: The trace element profile of the cholesterol gallstones was determined by proton-induced X-ray emission spectroscopic technique and the thermal properties of the cholesterol stones were studied by thermogravimetry-derivative thermogravimetry analysis. RESULTS: It was observed that 14 minor/trace elements, namely S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Br and Pb, were present in the cholesterol stone samples. The average concentration of Fe in south Indian (Chennai region) gallstone samples (503.4 ppm) is about 2.5 times more than that of the east Indian gallstone samples (205.0 ppm), whereas the concentration of Fe is still higher in other parts of south India (848.2 ppm) as analysed by Ashok et al. CONCLUSIONS: The higher concentration of Cu (in some parts of south India except the Chennai region) and Fe in south Indian cholesterol stone samples may be due to the intake of tamarind (Garcinia camborginia) as their regular food. The thermogravimetry and derivative thermogravimetry curves provided information on the thermal decompositions of cholesterol stones.
