title: Serum Zinc, Copper, Magnesium and Selenium Levels in Children with Helicobacter Pylori Infection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Helicobacter pylori infection can cause disease from mild to severe that may be accompanied by micronutrient deficiencies. We aimed to investigate serum zinc, copper, magnesium and selenium levels in Helicobacter pylori positive children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-four children, with chronic abdominal pain and diag-nosed to be Helicobacter pylori-positive and 20 healthy children with the same demo-graphic characteristics were included in the study. Serum zinc, copper and magnesium levels were measured in the flame unit of atomic absorption spectrophotometer, selenium levels were measured in the graphite unit of the same atomic absorption spectrophotometer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum zinc levels were significantly higher and serum magnesium levels were significantly lower (p<0.05) in Helicobacter pylori positive children than those of the control group. Although copper levels were lower in patient group than in control group, this difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05). There was no significant difference between serum selenium levels of two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We concluded that in Helicobacter pylori-positive children, many trace elements and mineral metabolism may change.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Ataturk University Faculty of Medicine, Erzurum Turkey.
authors.forename: Nurinnisa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Öztürk
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Ataturk University Faculty of Medicine, Erzurum Turkey.
authors.forename: Nezahat
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kurt
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Ataturk University Faculty of Medicine, Erzurum Turkey.
authors.forename: Fatma Betül
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Özgeriş
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Ataturk University Faculty of Medicine, Erzurum Turkey.
authors.forename: Nurcan Kılıç
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Baygutalp
authors.affiliation: Polyclinic of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Denizli State Hospital, Denizli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mahya Sultan
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Tosun
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Ataturk University Faculty of Medicine, Erzurum Turkey.
authors.forename: Nuri
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bakan
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Ataturk University Faculty of Medicine, Erzurum Turkey.
authors.forename: Ebubekir
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bakan
keywords: Helicobacter Pylori; copper; magnesium; selenium; zinc