Assessment of serum level of selected essential trace elements in patients with renal disorders

Abstract

Levels of some trace elements in the sera of patients (male and female) with kidney diseases were determined. The patients were twelve (12) in number, aged between 45-65 years and were having occupation traceable to heavy metal exposure. The trace elements determined were iron, manganese, copper and zinc. The investigation was conducted at the in-and-out patient unit of the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria and the results obtained were compared with the corresponding values obtained in control subjects. The results of this study revealed a significant (P<0.05) increase in serum iron and manganese levels where mean serum iron levels of [(92.9±16.5), (45.0±150.9)] mg/100 ml were obtained in patients (both sexes) compared to [(82.5±5.14), (50.8±100.3)] mg/10 0 ml obtained in control subjects respectively. Mean serum manganese levels of [(2.39±1.30), (0.05±6.90)] mg/100 ml were also obtained in patients (both sexes) compared to [(1.20±0.22), (0.70±1.90)] mg/100 ml in control subjects respectively. However, there was significant (P<0.05) decrease in serum copper and zinc levels in the patients compared to the control subjects. Mean serum copper levels of [(49.3±12.4), (20.5±92.2)] mg/100 ml were obtained from patients compared to [(82.5±47.3), (50.8±89.2)] mg/100 ml obtained in control subjects while mean serum zinc levels of [(54.3±15.9), (16.5±100.0)] mg/100 ml were obtained from patients compared to [(66.1±5.17), (40.8±84.0)] mg/10 0 ml in control subjects. The results suggest heavy metal interference with the essential trace elements in physiological system of the patients due to occupational exposure.