title: An alternative way for the evaluation of zinc status in the elderly; nail zinc levels and relationship with Alzheimer's disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Zinc is one of the most important elements for human body. Zinc deficiency can occur in any age, if it is seen in elderly its clinical results can be more harmful due to already diminished functions. Some studies showed zinc deficiency has an important role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer disease. In this study we measured the nail zinc levels and aimed to show its clinical implications in geriatric patients, especially Alzheimer disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  43 patients with Alzheimer disease and 89 patients with normal cognitive function were evaluated. The diagnosis of Alzheimer disease was made according to DSM-IV and NINCDS-ADRDA criteria after cognitive assessment and neuroimaging performed using magnetic resonance. Hand fingernail samples are obtained from the patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean zinc level from fingernail samples was 117.99 ± 73.44 ppm in Alzheimer Disease patients, 123.86 ± 77.98 ppm in control group (p: 0.680).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first study measuring nail zinc levels in elderly patients with and without Alzheimer disease. Our data reveal no significant difference in nail zinc levels between two groups. However, fingernail zinc may be a useful biomarker in elderly population.
authors.affiliation: Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey. mekuyumcu@gmail.com  
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Kuyumcu
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yesil
authors.forename: Z A
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Ozturk
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cankurtaran
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ulger
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Halil
authors.forename: B B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Yavuz
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sait
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Akyol
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vural
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kara
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ariogul
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000378:metabolism*; D015415:Biomarkers; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009262:Nails / Q000737:chemistry*; D015032:Zinc / Q000032:analysis* / Q000172:deficiency
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D015032:Zinc