Determination of the effect of selected diseases on the level of zinc and magnesium in teeth extracted from patients for clinical reasons.

Abstract

As in other human tissues, determination of the content of elements in dentition may be of significance in disease diagnostics. Zinc and magnesium are bioelements that play an important role in humans. The tissue and serum concentrations of these elements may be linked to numerous diseases; thus, they may be useful biomarkers in the early detection of diseases. The objective of this study was to compare the content of zinc and magnesium in teeth extracted for clinical reasons from patients of both genders in different age groups, who were diagnosed with the following medical conditions: cardiovascular diseases, digestive diseases, infectious disorders, other chronic diseases, and hereditary diseases. Furthermore, the study attempted to determine the effect of the drugs used by the patients on the content of zinc and magnesium in their teeth. After cleaning and fragmenting, the extracted teeth were mineralized, and subsequently the content of the investigated elements was determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. In patients with chronic diseases, who continuously received drugs, a statistically significantly higher level of zinc (p < 0.001) and magnesium (p < 0.001) was observed as compared with the patients who did not take those medicines. People without chronic diseases but having cardiovascular diseases also exhibited a higher level of zinc. The highest zinc level in teeth was determined in people aged above 50 (p = 0.11). Furthermore, the levels of zinc and magnesium in the teeth of the study group were related and an increase in zinc concentration was observed with an increase in the concentration of magnesium (p < 0.001). Moreover, a statistically significant correlation was observed between the age of the examined people and the level of zinc (p > 0.04). The older patient had the higher the level of zinc in teeth. The level of magnesium was statistically significantly higher in the teeth of persons with other chronic diseases (p = 0.01) and those who were on medication (p < 0.001). The accumulation of zinc and magnesium in the teeth of patients is partially a result of the physiological and pathological processes occurring in aged humans. For this reason, determination of the content of these elements in teeth, which are intended for disposal according to standards, could offer diagnostic information and enable restricting the effect of pathological environmental factors on the patient's health status.