title: Evaluation of status of arsenic, cadmium, lead and zinc levels in biological samples of normal and arthritis patients of age groups (46 - 60) and (61 - 75) years.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease resulting in inflammation of diarthrodial joints (particularly joints of hands, wrists, feet, knees, ankles, and shoulders), manifested by swelling and functional impairment. This study was designed to evaluate the levels of the toxic elements arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb) and correlate those with the essential trace element zinc (Zn) in biological samples (scalp hair, blood, and urine) of arthritis patients, in two age groups (46 - 60 and 61 - 75) of both genders. For comparison purposes all three biological samples were collected from gender- and age-matched non-arthritic subjects as referents.
  
  
  METHODS
  The As, Cd, and Pb in biological samples were analysed by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry, prior to microwave assisted acid digestion. The level of Zn was determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The validity and accuracy of the methodology was checked by using Certified Reference Materials (CRM) from the Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) of the Commission of the European Community and with those values obtained by conventional wet acid digestion method on the same CRMs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of this study showed that the mean values of As, Cd, and Pb were higher in blood, scalp hair, and urine samples of arthritis patients as compared to those values obtained in age-matched referent subjects. The concentration of Zn was lower in the biological samples of rheumatoid arthritis patients of both genders with respect to non-arthritic subjects. The urinary levels of the elements studied were found to be higher in the arthritis patients than in the age-matched healthy referents (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An inverse correlation was observed between Zn and toxic elements in biological samples of arthritis patients (r = 0.612 - 0.754). Intake of certain antioxidant micronutrients, particularly a zinc supplement, may protect against the development of rheumatoid arthritis.
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence in Analytical Chemistry, University of Sindh, Jamshoro 76080, Pakistan. hassanimranafridi@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Hassan Imran
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Afridi
authors.forename: Tasneem Gul
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Kazi
authors.forename: Naveed
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kazi
authors.forename: Farah Naz
authors.initials: FN
authors.lastname: Talpur
authors.forename: Faheem
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.lastname: Naeemullah
authors.forename: Sadaf Sadia
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Arain
authors.forename: Kapil Dev
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Brahman
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001151:Arsenic / Q000097:blood*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood*; D002104:Cadmium / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012015:Reference Standards; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D002104:Cadmium; D007854:Lead; D015032:Zinc; D001151:Arsenic