Abstract
Background: In recent years, trace elements (TEs) have gained considerable attention in the course of treatment and diagnosis of ischemic stroke. The purpose of the conducted research was to determine the trace mineral status (Se, Cu, Zn, Cu/Zn ratio, and Cu/Se ratio) in patients with acute ischemic stroke compared to the population of healthy people in the northeastern region of Poland. Materials and methods: 141 patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and 69 healthy control subjects were examined. The serum concentrations of mineral components were assessed by the atomic absorption spectrometry method. Clinical parameters were updated based on medical records. Results: The serum Se and Zn concentrations were significantly decreased (p < 0.0001; p < 0.0001) in patients with AIS compared with healthy control subjects. However, no significant differences were revealed in terms of the serum Cu concentration (p = 0.283). As expected, we found that the serum Cu/Zn and Cu/Se molar ratios were significantly higher (p = 0.001; p < 0.0001) in patients with AIS compared with healthy control subjects. Conclusions: Disturbed metal homeostasis is a significant contributor to AIS pathogenesis. Furthermore, marked disruption of the serum Cu/Zn and Cu/Se molar ratios could serve as a valuable indicator of AIS patients’ nutritional status and oxidative stress levels.
Highlights
Stroke is the second leading cause of death worldwide, following only ischemic heart disease, and is one of the main causes of long-term disability across the globe, with its impact ever increasing [1,2,3]
We studied 141 consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and 69 healthy control subjects
The baseline general demographic characteristics, biochemical values, and the serum levels of Se, Cu, Zn, and Cu/Zn and Cu/Se molar ratios in the patients with AIS and control subjects are presented in Tables 1 and 2
Summary
Stroke is the second leading cause of death worldwide, following only ischemic heart disease, and is one of the main causes of long-term disability across the globe, with its impact ever increasing [1,2,3]. Zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) are the most common metals in the human body, with relatively large amounts found in the brain While their functions in the inflammation process are yet to be fully explored, it has been shown that they are essential in controlling the synthesis of free oxygen radicals because of their involvement in antioxidant stress modulation. It is thought that an elevated fraction of free cooper in serum may be harmful due to its significant oxidation–reduction potential through the generation of reactive oxygen species in Fenton and Haber–Weiss type reactions [21] They are essential to the operating of the immune system and proper functioning of a variety of physiological and biochemical processes [22,23]. Recent observation has suggested that Zn deficiency might contribute to the accumulation of senescent cells and to vascular pathology as well as ischemic stroke [28]
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