title: The effect of the systemic inflammatory response on plasma zinc and selenium adjusted for albumin.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The magnitude of systemic inflammatory response, as evidenced by C-reactive protein (CRP), is a major factor associated with lower zinc and selenium. They may also be influenced by their binding proteins, such as albumin. The aim of the present study was to examine the relationships between plasma zinc, selenium and the systemic inflammatory response in a large cohort of patients referred for nutritional screen and also to examine these relationships in patients with critical illness.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients referred for nutritional assessment of zinc (n = 743) and selenium (n = 833) and 114 patients with critical illness were examined. Intra-assay imprecision was <10% for these analytes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the nutritional screen cohort, plasma zinc was significantly associated with CRP (rs = -0.404, p < 0.001) and albumin (rs = 0.588, p < 0.001). For each CRP category (≤10, 11-80, >80 mg/l) the zinc/albumin ratio x100 was similar (31, 33 and 32 respectively, p = 0.029). Plasma selenium was significantly associated with CRP (rs = -0.489, p < 0.001) and albumin (rs = 0.600, p < 0.001). With increasing CRP category (≤10, 11-80, >80 mg/l) the selenium/albumin ratio ×100 was lower (2.3, 2.1 and 1.8 respectively, p < 0.001). Similar relationships were also observed in the cohort of patients with critical illness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Plasma zinc was associated with both CRP and albumin. The impact of the systemic inflammatory response could be largely adjusted by albumin concentrations. Plasma selenium was associated with both CRP and albumin. The impact of the systemic inflammatory response on plasma selenium concentrations could not be reasonably adjusted by albumin concentrations.
authors.affiliation: Academic Unit of Anaesthesia, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life of Sciences, University of Glasgow, Royal Infirmary, Glasgow G31 2ER, United Kingdom; Academic Unit of Surgery, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life of Sciences, University of Glasgow, Royal Infirmary, Glasgow G31 2ER, United Kingdom. Electronic address: rgashot@yahoo.co.uk.
authors.forename: Rawia A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Ghashut
authors.affiliation: Academic Unit of Surgery, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life of Sciences, University of Glasgow, Royal Infirmary, Glasgow G31 2ER, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Donald C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: McMillan
authors.affiliation: Academic Unit of Anaesthesia, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life of Sciences, University of Glasgow, Royal Infirmary, Glasgow G31 2ER, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kinsella
authors.affiliation: Academic Unit of Anaesthesia, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life of Sciences, University of Glasgow, Royal Infirmary, Glasgow G31 2ER, United Kingdom; Academic Unit of Surgery, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life of Sciences, University of Glasgow, Royal Infirmary, Glasgow G31 2ER, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Aikaterini T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Vasilaki
authors.affiliation: The Scottish Trace Element and Micronutrient Reference Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, Royal Infirmary, Glasgow G31 2ER, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Dinesh
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Talwar
authors.affiliation: The Scottish Trace Element and Micronutrient Reference Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, Royal Infirmary, Glasgow G31 2ER, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Duncan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012643:Selenium / Q000097:blood*; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism*; D018746:Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D012709:Serum Albumin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D012643:Selenium; D015032:Zinc
keywords: Albumin; C-reactive protein; Selenium; Zinc