Copper and Zinc Levels in Hair of Both Schizophrenic and Depressed Patients

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to estimate hair copper and zinc levels in schizophrenic and depressed patients and to correlate these levels to the severity of schizophrenia and major depressive disorder. The study was carried on 80 male and female persons with their ages between 20 -40 years. Twenty of them were healthy and helped as control, 30 were suffering from schizophrenia (group I) and 30 were suffering from major depressive disorder (group II). Exclusion criteria included pregnancy, another co-morbid psychiatric disorders and drugs known to affect trace element metabolism. Approximately 100 mg of scalp hair samples were cut from each person. Zinc and copper levels in the hair samples were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry after wet ashing. The mean hair copper level was significantly higher in both schizophrenic patients (group I) and depressed patients (group II) when compared with their corresponding mean level in healthy control group. On the other hand, the mean hair zinc level was significantly lower in both schizophrenic patients (group I) and depressed patients (group II) when compared with its mean level in the healthy control group. In depressed patients, the mean hair copper level was insignificantly higher while, the mean hair zinc level was significantly lower when compared with their corresponding mean level in schizophrenic patients. From these results, it can be concluded that copper excess and zinc deficiency may have a role in the pathogenesis of either schizophrenia and/ or depressive disorders. It can also be concluded that zinc deficiency may have more important role in inducing depressive disorders. So, it is recommended to evaluate both copper and zinc hair and serum levels in schizophrenic and depressed patients especially in those resistant to the traditional therapy measures. Moreover, this may have a prognostic value. It is recommended also to use zinc supplementation during antidepressant therapy as it may improve response to therapy and/ or decrease the antidepressant dose that can minimize the side effects.