Serum copper concentration in adults with acute, uncomplicated Falciparum malaria infection

Serum copper concentration was measured in 80 adult patients (40 males and females each; age range: 18–40 yr) presenting with acute, uncomplicated falciparum malaria infection and a control group of 20 age-matched, healthy individuals. The mean serum copper concentration was 109.0±40.0 μg/dL in healthy individuals. Both male and female patients were found to have a significantly decreased serum copper concentration (p<0.05). In the male patients, the mean serum copper concentration decreased by 33.95%, whereas it dropped by 38.53% in their female counteraparts. A compromised enzymatic antioxidant defense capability, particularly superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, has been reported in patients with falciparum malaria infection. Because SOD activity is dependent on copper, the ineffective SOD activity can be related to the decrease in the concentration of copper during the infection. Low serum copper can also contribute to the ineffective immune response of the host to the antigenic challenge of the falciparum parasite because copper is also important for normal immune function.     

Effects of Environmental Lead Pollution, Smoking, and Smokeless Tobacco (Maras Powder) Use on Blood Lead Level

One hundred sixty-four adult male volunteers (29 controls [Group 1] and 135 combi drivers) enrolled in the study. The combi drivers were divided into three groups as nonusers of either Maras powder or cigarette (Group 2), smokers (Group 3), and users of Maras powder (Group 4). Blood lead levels (BLLs) were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. BLL was detected as 2.8 ± 2.3 μg/dL in Group 1 (n = 29); however, it was 3.5 ± 1.6 μg/dL in Group 2 (n = 33), 3.8 ± 2.4 μg/dL in Group 3 (n = 62), and 3.9 ± 2.4 μg/dL in Group 4 (n = 40). BLL in Group 1 was found significantly lower than other groups (p < 0.05). The use of cigarette or Maras powder by the drivers did not give rise to a marked difference on the BLLs (p > 0.05). BLL of (combi) drivers was detected to be significantly higher than nondrivers; however, it was still under the hazardous level of 10 μg/dL announced by WHO. Although there are publications reporting that usage of tobacco increases the level of lead in blood, both smoking and use of Maras powder did not affect BLL markedly in our study. Poster presented (the abstract section published in Congress Book) at the 7th Congress of Turkish Family Physicians, 23–26 May 2006, Cesme-IZMIR, Turkey.     

Serum Copper,Zinc, and Magnesium Levels in Patients with Chronic Fluorosis

Although there are many studies on effect of fluoride on trace elements in experimental animals, few studies exist on serum trace elements levels in patients with endemic fluorosis. We aimed to determine the serum levels of trace elements including serum copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and serum levels of minerals including calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), potassium (K) in patients with endemic fluorosis. The study group consisted of 30 patients with endemic fluorosis (17 females, 13 males, mean age 33.53 ± 9.85 years). An age, gender, and body mass index matched 30 healthy volunteers comprised control group (21 females, ten males with a mean age 33.93 ± 7.39 years). Urine fluoride levels of chronic fluorosis patients were significantly higher than that of control subjects as expected (1.92 ± 0.10 mg/l vs. 0.41 ± 0.09 mg/l, respectively; P < 0.001). Serum Cu levels (89.14 ± 16.77 μg/dL vs. 102.69 ± 25.04 μg/dL, respectively, P = 0.017), serum Zn levels (77.98 ± 20.58 μg/dL vs. 94.57 ± 35.87μg/dL, respectively, P = 0.032), and serum Mg levels (1.92 ± 0.18 mg/dL vs. 2.07 ± 0.31 mg/dL, respectively, p = 0.022) was significantly lower in chronic fluorosis patients than in controls. There were no statistically significant differences between the fluorosis group and control group with respect to serum levels of Na, K, Ca, and P. We concluded that chronic fluorosis is associated with reduced serum levels of Cu, Zn, and Mg.     

The mechanism of erythrocyte invasion by the malarial parasite, Plasmodium falciparum

Plasmodium falciparum is the most virulent causative agent of malaria in man accounting for 80% of all malarial infections and 90% of the one million annual deaths attributed to malaria. P. falciparum is a unicellular, Apicomplexan parasite, that spends part of its lifecycle in the mosquito and part in man and it has evolved a special form of motility that enables it to burrow into animal cells, a process termed “host cell invasion”. The acute, life threatening, phase of malarial infection arises when the merozoite form of the parasite undergoes multiple cycles of red blood cell invasion and rapid proliferation. Here, we discuss the molecular machinery that enables malarial parasites to invade red blood cells and we focus particularly on the ATP-driven acto-myosin motor that powers invasion.     

Selenium and blood pressure studies in young and adult normotensive,renal, and spontaneously hypertensive animals

With reports of either no change or reduction of blood pressure, the relationship between selenium and blood pressure has not been clear. Normal Se values are not available for the Sprague Dawley (SD) rat or in the young and adult rat with various models of experimental hypertension. This study measured serum Se levels in the young and adult normotensive (NT), Grollman renal hypertensive (RH), and Okamoto-Aoki spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHR). The young animals have statistically significant (P<0.001) lower Se values as measured by the fluorometric method than those found at adulthood. Selenium levels were found to be altered in the adult SHR animals when compared with the RH and NT animals. The serum Se value for the normotensive SD rat was found to be 65.0±3.5 μg/dL, and for the two experimental models, 63.7±4.6 μg/dL for the RH, whereas the SHR level was elevated to 75.04±4.8 μg/dL (P<0.001). Elevated serum Se values in the adult SHR animals suggests an altered metabolism in SHR animals.     

Serum Iron,Zinc, and Copper Concentration in Premature Graying of Hair

Premature graying of hair with unclear etiology, which is known as premature canities, is a common cause of referrals to the dermatologists. We assessed the relationship between serum iron, copper, and zinc concentrations with premature canities. This study was conducted on patients under 20 years old suffering from premature canities, having a minimum of ten gray hair fibers, and referring to university hospitals of Isfahan (Iran). The results were compared with age–sex-matched controls. Demographic data and disease characteristics were recorded for two groups. We studied serum iron, copper, and zinc concentrations of 66 patients and 66 controls using atomic absorption and Ferrozine methods. The mean age of studied cases was 17.8 ± 2.0 years, and the mean age of the onset of canities was 15.5 ± 3.2 years with no significant difference between males and females (P > 0.05). Serum copper concentration was significantly lower in patients compared with controls (90.7 ± 37.4 vs. 105.3 ± 50.2 μg/dL, P = 0.048), but serum iron concentration was significantly lower in controls compared to patients (88.8 ± 39.5 vs. 108.3 ± 48.4 μg/dL, P = 0.008). Also, there was no significant difference between patients and controls in serum zinc concentration (114.8 ± 67.8 vs. 108.2 ± 49.9 μg/dL, P = 0.285). According to these results, among copper, zinc, and iron, a low serum copper concentration may play a role in premature graying of hairs in our society. Further studies are needed to find the underlying mechanism of this relationship.     

Urine Iodine Levels in Preeclamptic and Normal Pregnant Women

The aim of this study was to investigate the urine iodine concentration in women with severe preeclampsia and in healthy women in Erzurum, Turkey. Urine specimens were obtained from 40 severe preeclampsia and 18 healthy pregnant women. Urinary iodine levels were determined by the Foss method based on the Sandell–Kolthoff reaction. The urinary iodine level for women with severe preeclampsia was 4.25 ± 2.7 μg/dL, lower than 20.89 ± 6.4 μg/dL of urinary iodine for healthy pregnant women (p < 0.001). Blood magnesium concentration was found to be 1.63 ± 0.05 mg/dL for women with severe preeclampsia, which is lower than that of healthy pregnant women (1.87 ± 0.05 mg/dL; p < 0.001). There was a positive correlation between urinary iodine level and blood magnesium level in pregnant women with preeclampsia (Pearson correlation coefficient = 0.43; p < 0.01). However, there was no correlation between urinary iodine level and blood magnesium level in healthy pregnant women. There was no difference in thyroid hormone levels (T4, TSH, FT4) between women with severe preeclampsia and healthy pregnant women. However, there was a difference in T3 thyroid hormone levels between women with severe preeclampsia (1.86 ± 0.4 μg/dL) and healthy pregnant women (1.45 ± 0.3 μg/dL; p < 0.001). There was also a difference in FT3 between women with severe preeclampsia (2.77 ± 0.4 pg/mL) and healthy pregnant women (2.41 ± 0.5 μg/dL; p < 0.01). Urinary iodine excretion is currently the most convenient laboratory marker of iodine deficiency. The method is useful for the rapid and low-cost assessment of iodine deficiency. Our results suggested that urinary iodine concentration might be a useful marker for prediagnosing preeclamptic women. In addition, iodine supplementation may also be considered for preeclamptic therapy.     

Zinc and copper in Indian patients of tuberculosis

The effectiveness and success of antitubercular therapy is mainly measured by identifying the organism in sputum. In certain patients, especially in geriatric patients, available tuberculosis tests are not satisfactory and do not provide enough information on the effectiveness of antitubercular therapy, as the symptoms might be confused with the existing symptoms of ongoing diseases. Therefore, 60 diagnosed and randomly selected patients with tuberculosis were included into this study. The patients with other associated diseases likely to influence serum copper and zinc were not included in the study. The estimations of serum copper and zinc were done in healthy volunteers and in tubercular patients before the start of treatment and after 4 wk of antitubercular treatment. The average plasma concentration of serum copper and zinc in healthy volunteers were 102±20 μg/dL and 96±18 μg/dL respectively. In tuberculosis patients, serum copper and zinc levels were 123.65±9.98 μg/dL and 64.14±3.97 μg/dL, respectively, before the start of treatment, which came down to 116.23±4.27 μg/dL and 74.31±3.60 μg/dL, respectively, after 4 wk of antitubercular treatment.     

Dynamic changes in white blood cell counts in uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax malaria

Total and differential white blood cell (WBC) counts are basic and essential indicators in any type of illness resulting from infection. In malaria, WBC counts are generally characterized as low to normal during treatment. WBC-counts data, before and during treatment with artemisinin derivatives, was gathered for patients with either Plasmodium falciparum or Plasmodium vivax infection (at 28-day follow-up), to investigate dynamic changes in WBC count. We analyzed and compared the WBC counts of 1310 inpatients presenting with uncomplicated P. falciparum and P. vivax malaria at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases, in Bangkok, Thailand. Before-treatment, a statistically significant negative correlation was found between initial WBC count and highest temperature on admission. Before and during treatment, WBC counts were significantly lower in P. falciparum than P. vivax infection on days 0 and 7, but the numerical difference was small. We also found clinically significantly low WBC counts during the acute stages of both types of malaria, which subsequently normalized by day 28 follow-up. This finding has important clinical implications for the conventional method of estimating parasitemia using an assumed WBC count of 8000 cells/μL. The most significant finding in our analysis is that WBC counts in acute P. falciparum and P. vivax malaria are significantly lower than previously assumed for estimating malaria-parasite density. However, these abnormalities returned to normal within several weeks after artemisinin-derivative-based treatment.     

Periodicity and synchronization in blood-stage malaria infection

Malaria fever is highly periodic and is associated with the parasite replication cycles in red blood cells. The existence of periodicity in malaria infection demonstrates that parasite replication in different red blood cells is synchronized. In this article, rigorous mathematical analysis of an age-structured human malaria model of infected red blood cells (Rouzine and McKenzie, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 100:3473–3478, 2003) is provided and the synchronization of Plasmodium falciparum erythrocytic stages is investigated. By using the replication rate as the bifurcation parameter, the existence of Hopf bifurcation in the age-structured malaria infection model is obtained. Numerical simulations indicate that synchronization with regular periodic oscillations (of period 48 h) occurs when the replication rate increases. Therefore, Kwiatkowski and Nowak’s observation (Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 88:5111–5113, 1991) that synchronization could be generated at modest replication rates is confirmed.     

Lead Accumulation as Possible Risk Factor for Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between preeclampsia and iodine levels and magnesium concentration in the blood of subjects in the northeast Anatolia region where iodine deficiency is common. Blood specimens were obtained from 24 preeclamptic and 16 healthy pregnant women. Iodine levels in blood were determined by the Foss method based on the Sandell–Kolthoff reaction. Serum protein-bound iodine (PBI) levels and magnesium concentration in maternal blood were lower in patients with severe preeclampsia compared to normal pregnant women (8.46?±?1.22 vs. 11.46?±?1.71 μg/dL, p?<?0.001, 1.63?±?0.05 vs. 1.86?±?0.05 mg/dL, p?<?0.001, respectively). Serum PBI levels and magnesium concentration in umbilical cord blood were higher in patients with severe preeclampsia than in normal pregnant women (8.84?±?1.9 vs. 7.33?±?1.07 μg/dL, p?<?0.05, 2.48?±?0.03 vs. 2.02?±?0.01 mg/dL, p?<?0.001, respectively). There was a positive correlation between the serum PBI levels in maternal blood and magnesium concentration in maternal blood in patients with severe preeclampsia (r?=?0.41, p?<?0.05). Thus, iodine may be one factor contributing to the pathophysiology of preeclampsia. Iodine supplementation may be effective therapy in preeclamptic in pregnant women.     

Biophysical Characterization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">β</Emphasis>-Thalassemic Red Blood Cells

Thalassemia is the world’s most common hereditary disease; therefore, more interest has been devoted for the development of the screening procedure of this disease. In β-thalassemia major, the subject of the current study, impaired biosynthesis of beta-globin leads to accumulation of unpaired alpha-globin chain. The objective of the present study, was to examine many of the biophysical properties of β-thalassemia major red blood cells (RBCs) and to study the possibility of use of any of them as a preliminary screening tool for β-thalassemia. The percentage of normal hemolysis, osmotic fragility test, turbidity test, rheological properties, and dielectric properties, were studied in 20 regularly blood transfused thalassemia major patients who were under chelation therapy and their status were compared with those of 10 healthy subjects. There was an increase in the percentage of hemolysis for β-thalassemia by 114.6% compared to the normal RBCs. The fragility curve for β-thalassemia RBCs showed a shift toward lower NaCl concentration compared to the normal curve. The average osmotic fragility (H ₅₀: the NaCl concentration producing 50% homolysis) for β-thalassemia was found to be 3.21 ± 0.67 g/l, whereas for normal RBCs it was 5.5 ± 0.31 g/l. The turbidity curve of the β-thalassemic RBCs showed a shift toward higher detergent concentration of the normal curve, with higher value for the average membrane solubilization (S ₅₀). The viscosity value of whole blood β-thalassemia was found to be 3.916 ± 0.56 cp whereas for normal blood was 2.516 ± 0.36 cp. The relative permittivity, dielectric loss, and AC conductivity of RBCs decreased significantly compared to normal samples. This could be attributed to the loss of the insulating properties of the membrane and loss of its surface charge of thalassemic RBCs. As can be noticed, several factors showed clear difference between thalassemic and normal blood samples. Some of these parameters could be measured immediately after sample withdrawal and require short time to perform the measurements. This offers the advantages of being effective, low cost, and fast techniques, therefore, we suggest that these techniques could be applied for β-thalassemia major screening purposes.     

The basis of the immunomodulatory activity of malaria pigment (hemozoin)

The most common and deadly form of the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, is responsible for 1.5–2.7 million deaths and 300–500 million acute illnesses annually [Bremen in J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 64:1–11 (2001); World Health Organization (2002)]. Hemozoin, the biomineral formed to detoxify the free heme produced during parasitic hemoglobin catabolism, has long been suspected of contributing to the pathological immunodeficiencies that occur during malarial infection. While there is a growing consensus in the literature that native hemozoin maintains immunosuppressive activity, there is considerable controversy over the reactivity of the synthetic form, β-hematin (BH). Given the emerging importance of hemozoin in modulating a host immune response to malarial infection, a careful examination of the effects of the constitutive components of the malaria pigment on macrophage response has been made in order to clarify the understanding of this process. Herein, we present evidence that BH alone is unable to inhibit stimulation of NADPH oxidase and inducible nitric oxide synthase, the key enzymes involved in oxidative burst, and is sensitive to the microbicidal agents of these enzymes both in vitro and in vivo. Further, by systematically examining each of the malaria pigment’s components, we were able to dissect their impact on the immune reactivity of a macrophage model cell line. Reactions between BH and red blood cell (RBC) ghosts effectively reconstituted the observed immunomodulatory reactivity of native hemozoin. Together, these results suggest that the interaction between hemozoin and the RBC lipids results in the generation of toxic products and that these products are responsible for disrupting macrophage function in vivo.Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available to authorized users in the online version of this article at .     

Serum and urine ionic fluoride

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the fluoride status in the general healthy population of Barcelona. Serum and urine fluoride ionic concentration was determined in a random sample of 250 subjects (age range 15–90 yr) by the Orion fluoride electrode system to determine the normal range of fluoride in this population. The results obtained show that in the general population of Barcelona, fluoride ionic serum concentration ranges between 1 and 47 μg/L (x = 17.5 ± 9.7 μg/L) and fluoride ionic urine concentration ranges between 156 and 1990 μg/24 h (x = 671 ± 373 μg/24 h). The mean serum fluoride concentration of the younger population was shown to be significantly greater (p < 0.05) than that of the older group. No sex-related difference was found.     

Plasma zinc response to a breakfast meal or fasting in elderly women

The aim of this study was to determine whether the postprandial decline in plasma zinc concentration is altered by aging. Eleven women, between the ages of 65 and 82 yr, participated in two separate experimental protocols: a high carbohydrate breakfast trial and a fasting trial. Plasma zinc concentrations were measured from blood samples obtained at 8∶00am (baseline fasting) and at 30-min intervals until 1∶00pm during each trial. Following the breakfast meal, plasma zinc concentrations declined 14% from 75±1 to 65±2 μg/dL (p<0.05), reaching a nadir 2.7±0.2 h after the meal. This decline was significantly (p<0.0001) greater than the 3.6% fall observed during the fasting trial. Postprandial changes in the plasma zinc concentrations were correlated with postprandial changes in serum glucose (r=−0.43,p<0.001), serum insulin (r=−0.17,p<0.01), and serum phosphorus(r=0.32,p<0.005). These data show that plasma zinc concentrations decline following food intake in elderly women in the same manner as previously described for younger adult women.     

Activity of glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and lipid peroxidation in erythrocytes in workers exposed to lead

The aim of this study was to estimate the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), and malondialdehyde (MDA) in erythrocytes in healthy male employees of zinc and lead steelworks who were occupationally exposed to lead over a long period of time (about 15 yr). Workers were divided into two subgroups: the first included employees with low exposure to lead (LL) (n=75) with blood lead level PbB=25–40 μg/dL and the second with high exposure to lead (HL) (n=62) with PbB over 40 μg/dL. Administration workers (n=35) with normal levels of PbB and zinc protoporphyrin in blood (ZPP) in blood were the control group. The activity of GPx significantly increased in LL when compared to the control group (p<0.001) and decreased when compared to the HL group (p=0.036). There were no significant changes in activity of GR in the study population. MDA erythrocyte concentration significantly increased in the HL group compared to the control (p=0.014) and to the LL group (p=0.024). For the people with low exposure to lead (PbB=25–40 μg/dL), the increase of activity of GPx by about 79% in erythrocytes prevented lipid peroxidation and it appears to be the adaptive mechanism against the toxic effect of lead. People with high exposure to lead (with PbB over 40 μg/dL) have shown an increase in MDA concentration in erythrocytes by about 91%, which seems to have resulted from reduced activity of GPx and the lack of increase in activity of GR in blood red cells.     

Serum and liver zinc,copper, and iron in chicks infected withEimeria acervulina orEimeria tenella

Two-wk-old broiler chicks were inoculated via crop intubation withEimeria acervulina at two doses: 10⁵ or 10⁶ sporulated oocysts/bird or withEimeria tenella at a dose of 10⁵ sporulated oocysts/bird. Serum and liver samples were collected on days 3 and 6 post-inoculation (PI). There were no significant changes in serum or liver zinc, copper, and iron concentrations in any of the infected groups by 3 d PI. However, on d 6, PI serum protein was significantly reduced in all of the infected groups compared to their pair-fed controls. The chicks infected withE. tennella had significantly reduced serum zinc (1.20 vs 1.77 μg/mL) and iron (0.44 vs 1.28 μg/mL) concentrations and significantly elevated serum copper (0.28 vs 0.17 μg/mL) and ceruloplasmin levels (20.33 vs 11.11 μg/mL) compared to their pair-fed counterparts. Those chicks infected withE. acervulina (10⁶ oocysts/bird) exhibited significantly reduced serum iron concentration by 6 days PI (0.90 vs 1.14 μg/mL). Liver zinc was significantly increased in the chicks infected withE. tenella (349 vs 113 μg/g dry liver wt), as was copper (24 vs 19 μg/g), whereas liver iron concentration was significantly reduced (172 vs 243 μg/g) compared to pair-fed controls. At both dose levels, the chicks infected withE. acervulina exhibited a significant reduction in liver iron by 6 d PI. Hepatic cytosol metals generally reflected whole tissue levels. Metallothionein (MT)-bound zinc was significantly elevated in the chicks infected withE. tenella. Iron bound to a high molecular weight, heat-stable protein fraction (presumably cytoplasmic ferritin) was significantly reduced in chicks infected withE. acervulina, as well as those infected withE. tenella. Collectively, the changes in serum zinc, copper, and iron concentrations, as well as the changes in hepatic zinc and MT-zinc concentrations in the chicks infected withE. tenella were similar to changes evoked during an acute phase response to infection. It is possible that a secondary bacterial infection or inflammation stemming from erosion of the lining of the cecum may play a role in the response of trace element metabolism to theE. tenella infection. Mentions of a trademarkr, proprietary product or specific equipment does not consitute a guarantee or warranty by the US Department of Agriculture and does not imply its approval to the exclusion of other products.     

The accumulation of lactic acid and its influence on the growth ofPlasmodium falciparum in synchronized cultures

Summary Synchronization ofPlasmodium falciparum cultured in vitro results in a one-step growth pattern that allows the study of stage-specific metabolic activities of the parasites. Lactic acid (LA) was selected as a metabolic marker, and the concentration of this end product found in spent media was correlated with the different erythrocytic stages of the parasites. When the medium was changed at 12 h intervals, cultures containing predominantly trophozoites produced 3.66±0.55 μmol LA per 12 h per 10⁷ parasitized cells (n=26), an amount of LA that is about 8 to 20 times higher than that found in corresponding cultures containing predominantly ring forms. Depending on the stage of development, parasitized red blood cells produced between 5 and 100 times more LA than uninfected erythrocytes (3.72±0.62 μmol LA per 12 hours per 10⁹ red blood cells) (n=41) when cultured under identical conditions. The intraerythrocytic development of the parasites was not impaired by exposure to extracellular concentrations of LA up to 12 mM over a 12 h period. The growth resulting in such cultures was described as uninhibited and was characterized by a multiplication index of 10 or higher. Above the threshold of 12 mM of LA, progressive inhibition of parasite development occurred. The stage-specific LA production reported can be used to predict the amount of LA that will have accumulated at the end of a subsequent 12 h incubation period during synchronized in vitro growth ofPlasmodium falciparum. Using these values, it is possible to establish an optimal medium exchange schedule, thereby assuring uninhibited growth and a correspondingly high parasite yield. J. W. Z. was supported during part of this study by a long-term fellowship of the European Molecular Biology Organization, Heidelberg, West Germany, followed by a Research Associateship from the National Research Council, Washington, D.C. The project was supported by grants from the Medical Research Council to J. G. S. and by the Naval Research and Development Command, Work Unit No. 3M 162 770 A871 AE 312. The opinions or assertions contained herein are the private ones of the authors and are not to be construed as official or reflecting the views of the U.S. Navy Department or the naval service at large.     

Effects of Restraint Stress on Iron,Zinc, Calcium,and Magnesium Whole Blood Levels in Mice

Objective Study the effects of acute and chronic restraint stress on the whole blood concentrations of iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) in mice. Materials and methods Single or repeat restraints were applied to mice to induce acute or chronic stress. The levels of elements in whole blood were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Results The levels of Fe, Zn, Ca, and Mg in blood in the acute-stress group were 351, 5.05, 60, and 44 μg/ml, respectively, and those in the corresponding control group were 391, 5.90, 59, and 45 μg/ml, respectively. The levels of blood Fe, Zn, Ca, and Mg in the chronic-tress group were 291, 3.62, 59, and 40 μg/ml, respectively, and those in the corresponding control group were 393, 4.82, 48, and 43 μg/ml, respectively. The levels of Fe and Zn in the blood of both the acute-stress and the chronic-stress groups were significantly lower (P < 0.05) than that in the control groups. The Ca level in whole blood was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the chronic-stress group than that in the control group. Conclusion Acute and chronic restraint stress can cause changes in blood levels of Fe and Zn in mice.