title: Comparison of serum Concentration of Se, Pb, Mg, Cu, Zn, between MS patients and healthy controls.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is defined as one of the inflammatory autoimmune disorders and is common. Its exact etiology is unclear. There are some evidences on the role of environmental factors in susceptible genetics. The aim of this study is to evaluate the possible role of Selenium, Zinc, Copper, Lead and Magnesium metals in Multiple Sclerosis patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the present analytical cross-sectional study, 56 individuals including 26 patients and 30 healthy controls were enrolled in the evaluation. The serum level of Se, Zn, Cu, Pb were quantified in graphite furnace conditions and flame conditions by utilizing an atomic absorption Perkin Elmer spectrophotometer 3030. The serum levels of Mg were measured by auto analyzer 1500 BT. The mean level of minerals (Zn, Pb, Cu, Mg, Se) in serum samples were compared in both cases and controls. The mean level of minerals (Zn, Pb, Cu, Mg, Se) in serum samples were compared in both cases and controls by using independent-samples t-test for normal distribution and Mann-Whitney U test as a non-parametric test. All statistical analyses were carried out using SPSS 11.0.
  
  
  RESULTS
  As well as the Zn, Cu, and Se, there was no significant difference between MS patients and healthy individuals in Pb concentrations (p-value = 0.11, 0.14, 0.32, 0.20 respectively) but the level of Mg was significantly different (p= 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All serum concentrations of Zn, Pb, Se, Cu in both groups were in normal ranges and there was no difference in MS patients compared with the healthy group who were matched in genetics. Blood level of Mg was significantly lower in MS patients. But it should be noted that even with the low level of serum magnesium in MS patients, this value is still in the normal range.
authors.affiliation: MD, Pediatrician, Fellowship of Toxicology, Assistant Professor, Department of Clinical Toxicology, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Anahita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alizadeh
authors.affiliation: Fellowship of Clinical Toxicology, Associate Professor, Medical Toxicology and Drug Abuse Research Center (MTDRC), Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Moallem Avenue, Birjand, Iran.
authors.forename: Omid
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Mehrpour
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor of Neurology, Department of Neurology, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Karim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nikkhah
authors.affiliation: Medical Student, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Golnaz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bayat
authors.affiliation: Neurologist, Department of Neurology, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahsa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Espandani
authors.affiliation: Medical Student, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Golzari
authors.affiliation: MD, MPH, Associate Professor in Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Lida
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jarahi
authors.affiliation: Professor of Neurology, Department of Neurology, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Foroughipour
keywords: Copper; Lead; Magnesium; Multiple sclerosis; Selenium; Zinc