Relative and combined effects of ethanol and protein deficiency on some hair trace elements

This study was performed in order to analyze the relative and combined effects of ethanol and protein deficiency on hair copper, zinc, manganese, and iron content in four groups of seven animals each which were pair-fed during 8 wk with (1) a nutritionally adequate diet, (2) a 36% (as energy) ethanol-containing isocaloric diet, (3) a 2% protein, isocaloric diet, and (4) a 36% ethanol, 2% protein isocaloric diet, respectively, following the Lieber-DeCarli model, and to analyze the relationship between hair copper, zinc, manganese, and iron content, and the liver and muscle content of these elements. Although there was a trend to higher levels of all the elements analyzed in the the hair of the low-protein fed animals, differences were statistically significant regarding copper and manganese, effects being solely attributable to the low protein diet, not to ethanol. Moreover, hair copper was significantly, inversely related with final weight and weight loss. There were significant relationship between liver zinc and muscle zinc (r=0.57, p=0.002), but not between liver or muscle zinc and hair zinc; no correlations were observed between muscle copper and hair copper, nor between liver manganese and hair manganese. An inverse, statistically significant correlation was observed between liver copper and hair copper (r=−0.39, p<0.05).     

Evaluation of zinc content in children’s hair

The zinc content in the hair of 654 children living in various rural and industrial areas in southern Poland was assayed by means of the atomic absorption spectrometry, following the dry digestion procedure. The hair of girls exhibited statistically significant higher level of Zn than the boys’ hair, although in the site of extremal Zn contamination, the inverse relation was found.     

Hair zinc and copper: Relationship to hair type and serum concentrations in children and adolescents

The zinc and copper serum and hair concentrations of 691 3-18-y-old girls and boys previously determined as a part of the Multicentre Study of Atherosclerosis Precursors in Finnish Children and Adolescents were further analyzed in order to find a possible association between these two zinc and copper indices. The influence of hair color and the diameter of individual hair strands on hair concentrations were studied by the analysis of covariance. Hair color and serum zinc concentrations were found to be associated with hair zinc concentrations in boys. Such an association was not found for zinc and copper concentrations in girls. Hair vs serum concentrations in different age and hair color groups did not show however, a significant relationship either in copper or in zinc concentrations. The subjects with very low or high serum zinc or copper concentrations did not usually have extreme hair concentrations and vice versa. However, there were some subjects with low or high serum concentrations associated with low or high hair concentrations.     

Structural and trace element changes in scalp hair of radiographers

Scalp hair samples were collected from medical radiographers and nonradiographers of matching age groups. Structural morphology of hair was studied by scanning electron microscopy, and the trace element profiles in hair were measured using neutron activation analysis. The structural damage to the hair follicles of the radiographers was quite obvious, and this may be a good qualitative indicator of radiation damage at low doses. The concentrations of aluminum (Al), potassium (K), and vanadium (V) in hair of the radiographers were significantly higher, whereas those of antimony (Sb) and magnesium (Mg) were significantly lower than those of nonradiographers. Some of our findings were quite consistent with those of others in determining the changes in trace element concentrations in irradiated tissue.     

Effect of excessive dietary fluoride on nutrient digestibility and retention of iron, copper, zinc, and manganese in growing pigs

Ninety-six crossbred growing pigs were used to evaluate the effects of fluoride levels on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and the retention of minerals in tissues. Four dietary treatments were formulated by supplementing fluorine (as NaF) to a corn-soybean basal diet (39.75 mg/kg F) to provide the following added fluorine levels: 0, 50 100, and 150 mg/kg fluorine. The results showed pigs of the 100 and 150 mg/kg fluorine-added groups had decreased average daily gain (ADG) and increased feed gain ratio (F/G) compared to the control (p<0.05). Apparent digestibility of protein and calcium in 100 and 150 mg/kg fluorinetreated groups was significantly lower than that of the control (p<0.05). On the other hand, iron, copper, zinc, and manganese levels in most tissues of the 100 and 150 mg/kg fluorine groups were markedly changed compared to the control (p<0.05). However, growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and mineral concentrations in all tissues of pigs were not significantly affected by the addition of 50 mg/kg fluorine (p>0.05). Thus, this study suggested that excess fluoride levels could decrease growth performance and change the retention of iron, copper, zinc, and manganese in pigs.     

Effect of cold-restraint stress on the distribution of trace elements in rat tissues

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of cold-restraint stress on blood and the other tissue levels of trace elements. The experiment was performed on male Swiss albino rats. The animals were divided to two groups: control and stressed groups. In the stressed group, the rats were subjected to immobilization for 4 h at 4°C. At the end of the experimental period, blood and tissue samples were collected from all of the animals. The levels of zinc, copper, magnesium, and manganese were measured using flame and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. In rats subjected to stress, the zinc levels of serum were increased, whereas in the duodenum and brain, zinc was found to decrease when compared to the control. The magnesium content of both the stomach and duodenum were reduced, but the manganese levels of the liver, kidneys, and brain significantly increased because of stress. In conclusion, cold-restraint stress may affect the metabolic process by changing the distributions of zinc, magnesium, and manganese in tissues.     

Measurement of zinc, copper, manganese, and iron concentrations in hair of pituitary dwarfism patients using flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometry

Pituitary dwarfism (hGHD) is known to be associated with trace element deficiency, which causes improper functioning of the involved endocrine system. Previously, we reported on the head hair concentrations of zinc, copper, manganese, and iron from a total of 418 normal subjects (154 male and 264 female). In this report, we analyzed the head hair concentrations of the same four trace metals of 103 hGHD children (60 male and 43 female) under treatment with human growth hormone (hGH). These subjects ranged in age from 5 to 18 yr. The results were compared with 338 agematched normal subjects (120 male and 218 female). Both male and female hGHD showed approx 1.7 times higher zinc concentrations than normal subjects. Cheruvanky et al. reported a similar trend but with a slightly lower difference between hGHD and normal subjects. The average copper content in the hair of both male and female subjects also showed higher values for the hGHD than for the normal subjects, a trend similar to the values reported by Teraoka et al. In the case of manganese, the concentrations in hair of the hGHD were approx 50% of the values in the normal subjects. Head hair concentrations of iron in the hGHD were commensurate with the normal subjects. Because the content of trace elements in hair varies with the age of subjects, as a control, we investigated the head hair concentration of zinc from 20 healthy girls ranging in age from 10 to 18 yr. The average zinc concentration decreased from 10 to 12 yr, but no clear relation to age was observed from 13 yr and older. These trends were similar to our previous report. The zinc concentration in hair and body weight gain over a year was negatively correlated. The age variation in the content of zinc, copper, manganese, and iron in hair was measured comparing hGHD with the normal subjects in various ages. Concerning the zinc-level variation of hGHD and normal subjects, there were conspicuous differences between hGHD and normal subjects. For copper, the variations in concentration with age were similar to zinc. Regarding the age variations for manganese, hGHD had lower concentrations in hair compared to the normal subjects throughout adolescence (11–18 yr). We have studied the effects between the hair and these trace element concentrations in hGHD before and after hGH administration. These results suggest that hGH affects the metabolism of these trace elements.     

Lead, copper, zinc, and magnesium content in hair of children and young people with some neurological diseases

The lead, copper, zinc, and magnesium levels of scalp hair taken from 153 children aged 1–15 yr and young people (16–18 yr) with selected neurological disorders (hyperexcibility, loss of consciousness, and epileptiform convulsions of an unknown origin, etc.), were measured using the atomic absorption spectrometry method and then compared with a control group of healthy children (n=108). The research indicated significantly reduced mean levels of magnesium in the hair of children suffering from selected neurological diseases (in children aged 11–15 yr of age, above 30%; up to 5 yr of age, nearly 30%; the differences were statistically significant at p<0.05) and slightly decreased mean levels of copper (differences statistically significant at p<0.05, particularly in the 11 to 15-yr category). Differences in zinc levels in hair were inconsiderable (not statistically significant in any age groups). The lead level in the hair of the above-mentioned group of children was exceeded in relation to the control group (a statistically significant difference at p<0.05 for the total group). A more than twofold decrease in the mean value of the Mg/Pb ratio (and a nearly 30% decrease in the value of the Mg/Zn ratio) in the hair of children suffering from neurological diseases suggests that the high toxicity of lead accompanying, among other things, magnesium deficiencies might be a cause of the observed disorders in children.     

Prediction of prostate cancer using hair trace element concentration and support vector machine method

A change in the normal concentration of essential trace elements in the human body might lead to major health disturbances. In this study, hair samples were collected from 115 human subject, including 55 healthy people and 60 patients with prostate cancer. The concentrations of 20 trace elements (TEs) in these samples were measured by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. A support vector machine was used to investigate the relationship between TEs and prostate cancer. It is found that, among the 20 TEs, 10 (Mg P, K, Ca, Cr, Mn, Fe. Cu, Zn, and Se) are related to the risk of prostate cancer. These 10 TEs were used to build the prediction model for prostate cancer. The model obtained can satisfactorily distinguish the healthy samples from the cancer samples. Furthermore, the cross-validation by leaving-one method proved that the prediction ability of this model reaches as high as 95.8%. It is practical to predict the risk of prostate cancer using this model in the clinics     

Zinc,copper, and magnesium concentrations in hair of children from Southeastern Turkey

Zinc, copper, and magnesium concentrations in hair were measured in groups of children varying in one condition—protein-energy malnutrition, ricketts, thalassemia, malignancy, cardiac failure, or after prolonged infection and in healthy controls. As compared with controls, copper and magnesium concentrations were low in all groups, whereas higher values were obtained for hair zinc. These results showed that a generalized copper and magnesium deficiency were observed in the southeastern part of Turkey. However, zinc deficiency couldn’t be detected as far as the hair zinc values were concerned, although all of the subjects fell within the 50 percentile limits for their age-appropriate weights and heights.     

Alterations in plasma essential trace elements selenium, manganese, zinc, copper, and iron concentrations and the possible role of these elements on oxidative status in patients with childhood asthma

The aim of the present study is to evaluate the status of plasma essential trace element selenium (Se), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and iron (Fe) concentrations and the effect of these elements on oxidative status in patients with childhood asthma. Plasma Se, Mn, Cu, and Zn concentrations were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) and Fe concentrations, malondialdehyde (MDA), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were determined by the colorimetric method. The plasma MDA/TAC ratio was calculated as an index of oxidative status. Plasma albumin levels were measured to determine nutritional status. Plasma Fe concentrations, MDA levels and the MDA/TAC ratio were significantly higher (p<0.001, p<0.001, and p<0.01, respectively) and Se and Mn concentrations and TAC were lower (p<0.01, p<0.05, and p<0.01, respectively) in patients when compared to the healthy subjects. Plasma Zn, Cu, and albumin levels were not found to be significantly different in patients and controls (p>0.05). There were positive relationships between plasma MDA and Fe (r=0.545, p<0.001) and TAC and Se (r=0.485, p<0.021), and a negative correlation between TAC and MDA values (r= −0.337, p<0.031) in patients with childhood asthma. However, there was no correlation between these trace elements and albumin content in patient groups. These observations suggest that increased Fe and decreased Se concentrations in patients with childhood asthma may be responsible for the oxidant/antioxidant imbalance.     

Brief communication: Choice of washing method of hair samples for trace element analysis in environmental studies.

Determination of inseparable exogenous and endogenous levels of toxic trace elements such as lead in human scalp hair has been used to understand and assess population exposure to such elements. For any such analysis, washing of the hair samples to remove superficial contamination is the foremost requirement. However, the use of such washing methods prior to elemental analysis removes minute quantities of trace elements from the hair strands. This degree of loss is dependent on the washing method employed. In the present study, the element lead has been determined in human scalp hair after three methods of hair washing. It is apparent that the nonionic detergent-acetone method is best suited for securing valid lead analysis results in human scalp hair.     

Serum trace element and amino acid profile in children with cerebral palsy

BackgroundThe existing data demonstrate that both trace elements and amino acids play a significant role in neurodevelopment and brain functioning. Certain studies have demonstrated alteration of micronutrient status in children with cerebral palsy, although multiple inconsistencies exist.The objectiveof the present study was to assess serum trace element and mineral, as well as amino acid levels in children with cerebral palsy.Methods71 children with cerebral palsy (39 boys and 32 girls, 5.7 ± 2.3 y.o.) and 84 healthy children (51 boys and 33 girls, 5.4 ± 2.3 y.o.) were enrolled in the present study. Serum trace element and mineral levels were assessed using inductively-coupled plasma mass-spectrometry (ICP-MS). Amino acid profile was evaluated by means of high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC).ResultsChildren with cerebral palsy are characterized by significantly lower Cu and Zn levels by 6% and 8%, whereas serum I concentration exceeded the control values by 7%. A tendency to increased serum Mn and Se levels was also observed in patients with cerebral palsy. Serum citrulline, leucine, tyrosine, and valine levels were 15 %, 23 %, 15 %, and 11 % lower than those in healthy controls. Nearly twofold lower levels of serum proline were accompanied by a 44 % elevation of hydroxyproline concentrations when compared to the control values. In multiple regression model serum I, Zn, and hydroxyproline levels were found to be independently associated with the presence of cerebral palsy. Correlation analysis demonstrated a significant correlation between Cu, Mn, Se, I, and Zn levels with hydroxyproline and citrulline concentrations.ConclusionThe observed alterations in trace element and amino acid metabolism may contribute to neurological deterioration in cerebral palsy. However, the cross-sectional design of the study does not allow to estimate the causal trilateral relationships between cerebral palsy, altered trace element, and amino acid metabolism.     

The role of trace metals in photosynthetic electron transport in O2-evolving organisms

Iron is the quantitatively most important trace metal involved in thylakoid reactions of all oxygenic organisms since linear (= non-cyclic) electron flow from H₂O to NADP⁺ involves PS II (2–3 Fe), cytochrome b₆-f (5 Fe), PS I (12 Fe), and ferredoxin (2 Fe); (replaceable by metal-free flavodoxin in certain cyanobacteria and algae under iron deficiency). Cytochrome c₆ (1 Fe) is the only redox catalyst linking the cytochrome b₆-f complex to PS I in most algae; in many cyanobacteria and Chlorophyta cytochrome c₆ and the copper-containing plastocyanin are alternatives, with the availability of iron and copper regulating their relative expression, while higher plants only have plastocyanin. Iron, copper and zinc occur in enzymes that remove active oxygen species and that are in part bound to the thylakoid membrane. These enzymes are ascorbate peroxidase (Fe) and iron-(cyanobacteria, and most al gae) and copper-zinc- (some algae; higher plants) superoxide dismutase. Iron-containing NAD(P)H-PQ oxidoreductase in thylakoids of cyanobacteria and many eukaryotes may be involved in cyclic electron transport around PS I and in chlororespiration. Manganese is second to iron in its quantitative role in the thylakoids, with four Mn (and 1 Ca) per PS II involved in O₂ evolution. The roles of the transition metals in redox catalysts can in broad terms be related to their redox chemistry and to their availability to organisms at the time when the pathways evolved. The quantitative roles of these trace metals varies genotypically (e.g. the greater need for iron in thylakoid reactions of cyanobacteria and rhodophytes than in other O₂-evolvers as a result of their lower PS II:PS I ratio) and phenotypically (e.g. as a result of variations in PS II:PS I ratio with the spectral quality of incident radiation).     

Correlation of trace mineral concentrations with fructose,gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase,and acid phosphatase in seminal plasma of different categories of infertile men

The study describes the concentrations of zinc, magnesium, copper, iron, and biochemical markers of seminal vesicle and prostate in seminal plasma of different categories of infertile men. The zinc level in oligasthenospermic subjects was significantly higher than in azoospermic, asthenospermic, and oligospermic subjects. The γ-glutamyl transpeptidase activity in both oligoasthenospermic and azoospermic subjects were significantly lower than in asthenospermic and oligospermic individuals. There was no significant difference in iron, copper, and magnesium levels and acid phosphatase activity among the different infertile categories. A positive correlation between zinc and acid phosphatase (r=0.84, r=0.73; p<0.05), and between copper and fructose (r=0.81, r=0.72; p<0.05) was observed in oligoasthenospermic and azoospermic men, respectively. On the basis of our results, it may be postulated that there is a direct effect of the trace elements zinc and copper on acid phosphatase and fructose, respectively, in oligoasthenospermic and azoospermic subjects.     

Plasma manganese, selenium, zinc, copper, and iron concentrations in patients with schizophrenia

A number of essential trace elements play a major role in various metabolic pathways. Selenium (Se), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and iron (Fe) are essential trace elements that have been studied in many diseases, including autoimmune, neurological, and psychiatric disorders. However, the findings of previous research on the status of trace elements in patients with schizophrenia have been controversial. We studied these elements in patients with a DSM-IV diagnosis of schizophrenia and compared them with sex- and age-matched healthy controls. Plasma Cu concentrations were significantly higher (p<0.01) and Mn and Fe concentrations were lower (p<0.05 and p<0.05, respectively) in schizophrenic patients than in controls. Se and Zn concentrations and protein levels did not differ between patients and healthy controls. These observations suggest that alterations in essential trace elements Mn, Cu, and Fe may play a role in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. However, findings from trace element levels in schizophrenia show a variety of results that are difficult to interpret.     

Twenty-eight element concentrations in mane hair samples of adult riding horses determined by particle-induced X-ray emission

The concentrations of 28 elements (Al, Br, Ca, Cl, Co, Cu, Cr, Fe, Ga, Hg, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Nb, Ni, P, Pb, Rb, S, Se, Si, Sr, Ti, V, Y, and Zn) were measured in mane hair by the particle-induced X-ray emission method. Except for Br, Cl, K, S, and P, the trace element concentrations in mane hair of horses are similar to literature values for human hair. The values obtained are not dependent on the horse's age, breed, and sex and could be used as reference values in the assessment of diseases and nutritional status in equines.     

Determination of copper and zinc levels in human hair

The Cu and Zn levels of both 607 men (1–85 y old) and 649 women (1–92 y old) were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. Sex does not influence Cu (14.89±0.89 μg/g and 15.26±0.79 μg/g hair for males and females, respectively) and Zn contents (200.97±9.68 μg/g for men and 209.81±9.49 μg/g hair for women). Age influences Cu and Zn concentrations, but only significantly in females: Cu levels decrease over 60 y of age; whereas Zn levels increase significantly from age groups 2–5 to 20–40 years. Hair color influences Cu concentrations in both males and females. In males, white hair containes less Cu than black hair; in females, white hair's Cu levels are significantly lower than those of dark blond, red, light brown, and brown hair. There are no significant differences in Zn concentrations with respect to different hair colors, in either males or females.     

Essential trace and toxic element distribution in the scalp hair of Pakistani myocardial infarction patients and controls

The pathogenesis of heart disease has been associated with changes in the balance of certain trace elements. The aim of this study was to evaluate the Zn, Fe, Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb, and Cd contents in scalp hair samples of myocardial infarction (MCI) patients hospitalized in the cardiac ward of National Hospital in Hyderabad city (Pakistan). Scalp hair samples were collected from 193 patients (104 male, 89 female) of 3 age groups (46–60, 61–75, and 76–90 yr), for a comparative study, 200 normal, healthy subjects (103 male, 97 female) of the same age groups residing in the same city were selected. All metals in scalp hair samples were assessed by a flame/graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometer, prior to microwave-assisted and conventional wet acid digestion methods. Results were calculated in micrograms per gram. The mean values of Fe and Zn of scalp hair samples of MCI patients were significantly reduced compared to the control subjects of both genders. The mean Fe concentrations in male patients were 19.42, 12.36, and 6.98 vs 30.69, 24.42, and 16.75 for the control patients in the three age groups (46–60, 61–75, and 76–90 yrs, respectively). The mean Zn concentration in male patients were 169.2, 149.4, and 107.7 μg/g vs 206.1, 188.0, and 154.4 μg/g for the control group (p<0.002, 0.004, and 0.001) in all three age groups, respectively. These differences were also observed in the female study groups. The mean values of Pb, Cd, and Ni were significantly high in patients compared to healthy subjects (mean Pb in male patients: 11.85, 12.89, and 14.52 those of female patients were 11.88, 12.73, and 14.21 vs the male controls patients (6.08, 7.56, and 8.56) and female controls (5.99, 7.41, and 8.25) for all three age groups, respectively. The concentration of Ni and Cd in the scalp hair samples of the heart patients of both sexes were significantly higher compared to the control; in the case of Ni the range of significant difference for males was found to be p<0.001–0.009 and for females to be p<0.0.002–0.007 and significantly high concentration of Cd were observed in hair samples of patients than in controls in the range for males (p<0.001–0.009) and in females (p<0.001–0.011). The Zn/Cu and Zn/Cd ratios in the scalp hair (p<0.01) of the diseased groups were significantly lower than that of the healthy groups. Deficiency of essential trace metals and high level of toxic metals might play a role in the development of heart disease in the subjects of this study. Toxic metals might also cause diminished absorption of essential elements.     

模式生物斑马鱼在微量元素代谢研究中的应用

微量元素如铁、锌、铜等对维持生物体代谢和健康至关重要,其含量失衡会造成代谢异常甚至死亡,因此生物体存在复杂机制维持这些微量元素的稳态代谢平衡（homeostasis）。近年来国际上一些实验室尝试用模式脊椎生物斑马鱼来开展该领域的研究,展示出斑马鱼的特有优势。特别是大规模正向遗传学筛选的成功开展,一系列微量元素代谢异常的突变体（如：weissherbst、chardonnay、chianti、shiraz、gavi、calamity和catastrophe）相继发现,为研究离子代谢调控机制和相关疾病的发病机理,提供了整体动态的活体模型。铁代谢相关基因加,2J和grx5都己在斑马鱼中成功定位克隆,斑马鱼铜载体基因atp7a突变体calamity的深入研究,进一步阐明了Menkes病的发病机理。利用斑马鱼的优势,结合小鼠模型和人群来研究微量元素的体内稳态代谢平衡将是微量元素代谢机制研究的新方向。