title: Relation of serum γ-glutamyl transferase activity with copper in an adult population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between serum γ-glutamyl transferase (γ-GGT) activity and serum copper in an adult population.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed 281 adult subjects who regularly attended the physical examination center at the Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The demographic and laboratory data of the participants were divided into two groups according to the median of serum γ-GGT activity. Serum copper concentrations in individuals with higher γ-GGT levels were significantly increased compared with those with lower γ-GGT concentrations (9.9±2.41 vs. 11.2±3.36 μmol/L, p<0.001). There was a positive correlation between serum γ-GGT activity and copper in all eligible subjects (r=0.198, p=0.001). Further, serum γ-GGT maintained a positive correlation with serum copper in both males and females (r=0.322, p<0.001; r=0.230, p=0.010). The results of multiple linear regression analysis showed that serum γ-GGT maintained a significantly positive correlation with copper after adjusting for multiple potential confounders (b=0.464, p=0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that serum γ-GGT activity is correlated with copper in the study population, indicating that serum γ-GGT may be a biomarker to evaluate serum copper levels in an adult population.
authors.affiliation: .
authors.forename: You-Fan
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: .
authors.forename: Chun-Fang
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: .
authors.forename: Guo-Gang
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Pan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D003300:Copper; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase
keywords: adult population; inflammation; serum copper; γ-glutamyl transferase