[Zinc and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].
BACKGROUND
To evaluate the zinc organic concentration in the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in relation to a control group. Also, to analyze if the serum zinc levels are related with zinc concentration in erythrocyte, nail and hair.


METHODS
Forty patients of COPD have been studied, all males, average age 62 +/- 7 years and body mass index (BMI) of 27 +/- 4. Forty patients were included in the control group, with average age 57 +/- 9 years and BMI of 24 +/- 5. The patients with concomitant disease or booth treatment that could increase the zinc excretion were excluded. In all patients clinical history and examination, hematology and biochemistry tests, hepatic and lipid parameters, and nail, plasma, hair and erythrocyte zinc levels by atomic absorption spectrophotometry were done. Variance analysis and Pearson test were done.


RESULTS
Blood, intraerythrocyte and nail zinc were similar in healthy subjects and patients; however, the median concentration of zinc in hair was significantly lower in patients (156 +/- 46 micrograms/g versus control group (185 +/- 64 micrograms/g) (p < 0.05). No differences were found between smokers and no smokers, and drinkers and no drinkers in relation with body concentration of zinc.


CONCLUSIONS
The zinc concentration in hair can be a good method to evaluate the chronic deficiency in the human body. The COPD patients could be susceptible to develop zinc deficiency; the situation increases the possibility of infection diseases.
León-Espinosa de los Monteros
M T
MT
Servicio de Medicina Interna A, Hospital Clínico San Cecilio, Granada.
Gil Extremera
B
B
Maldonado Martín
A
A
Luna del Castillo
J D
JD
Muñoz Parra
F
F
Ruiz López
M F
MF
Huertas Hernández
F
F
Cobo Martínez
F
F
D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000378:metabolism; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009262:Nails / Q000737:chemistry; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry; D012907:Smoking / Q000378:metabolism; D015032:Zinc / Q000032:analysis / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000378:metabolism
D008055:Lipids; D015032:Zinc