Distribution of serum Mg, Al, Ca, Fe, Zn and Cu ions in Tibetan population in drinking tea type fluorosis areas

Abstract

Objective To explore the distribution of serum Mg, Al, Ca, Fe, Zn and Cu ions in Tibetan population in drinking tea type fluorosis areas, and to provide a clue for pathogenesis of drinking tea type fluorosis. Methods Tibetans from six villages in Qinghai Province (Maqin County and Dari County), who were over 16 years old, born and grew up in those villages, were included. All of the participants were received epidemic questionnaire survey, tea water samples were collected and the fluoride concentration was tested based on the standard of Brick Tea Fluoride Content (GB 19965-2005). Meanwhile, the daily amount of brick tea consumption was surveyed to calculate the daily intake of tea fluoride. Blood samples were collected and the concentration of serum Mg, Al, Ca, Fe, Zn and Cu ions was tested by the method of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). All of the participants were diagnosed by X-ray, the parts we scheduled were forearm, shank and pelvic, then the skeletal fluorosis was diagnosed based on the Diagnostic Criteria for Endemic Fluorosis (WS/T 192-2008). Results A total of 170 people were surveyed, 74 people were skeletal fluorosis, and 96 people were non-skeletal fluorosis. The median (quartiles) of daily intake of tea fluoride was 7.35 (3.00, 12.30) mg. The concentration of serum Mg ion was 22.02 (17.30, 23.67) mg/L, Al ion was 0.22 (0.14, 0.38) mg/L, Ca ion was 100.03 (88.56, 112.73) mg/L, Fe ion was 1.66 (1.26, 2.36) mg/L, Zn ion was 0.80 (0.63, 0.95) mg/L and Cu ion was 1.28 (0.99, 1.48) mg/L. The concentration of serum Fe ion was higher in male [2.13 (1.37, 3.09) mg/L] than that of female [1.56 (1.18, 2.02) mg/L, Z= 3.28, P 0.05). Conclusions In the Tibetans who lived in the drinking tea type fluorosis areas, the concentration of serum Mg, Al, Ca, Fe, Zn and Cu ions is similar between skeletal fluorosis and non-skeletal fluorosis, which is also similar between higher daily intake of tea fluoride and lower daily intake of tea fluoride. However, it is different between older people and younger people. Key words: Fluorine; Minority groups; Ions