title: Distribution of copper, iron, and zinc in biological samples (scalp hair, serum, blood, and urine) of Pakistani viral hepatitis (A-E) patients and controls.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to compare the level of copper (Cu), iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) in biological samples (serum, blood, urine, and scalp hair) of patients suffering from different viral hepatitis (A, B, C, D, and E; n = 521) of both gender age ranged 31-45 years. For comparative study, 255 age-matched control subjects, of both genders residing in the same city were selected as referents. The elements in the biological samples were analyzed by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry, prior to microwave-assisted acid digestion. The validity and accuracy of the methodology was checked by using certified reference materials (CRMs) and with those values obtained by conventional wet acid digestion method on same CRMs. The results of this study showed that the mean values of Cu and Fe were higher in blood, sera, and scalp hair samples of hepatitis patients, while Zn level was found to be lower than age-matched control subjects. The urinary levels of these elements were found to be higher in the hepatitis patients than in the age-matched healthy controls (p < 0.05). These results are consistent with literature-reported data, confirming that the deficiency of zinc and hepatic iron and copper overload can directly cause lipid peroxidation and eventually hepatic damage.
authors.affiliation: National Center of Excellence in Analytical Chemistry, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, 76080 Sindh, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Nida Fatima
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Kolachi
authors.forename: Tasneem Gul
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Kazi
authors.forename: Hassan Imran
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Afridi
authors.forename: Naveed
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kazi
authors.forename: Ghulam Abbas
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Kandhro
authors.forename: Abdul Qadir
authors.initials: AQ
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Jameel Ahmed
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Baig
authors.forename: Sham Kumar
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Wadhwa
authors.forename: Sumaira
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Faheem
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Mohammad Khan
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Jamali
authors.forename: Mohammad Balal
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Arain
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000652:urine*; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000378:metabolism*; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000652:urine; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000652:urine; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000652:urine; D003699:Hepatitis D / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000652:urine; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000652:urine; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000652:urine*; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000652:urine*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012535:Scalp / Q000378:metabolism; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000652:urine*
chemical_list: D003300:Copper; D007501:Iron; D015032:Zinc