Biological trace element research
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Biol Trace Elem Res · Jan 2006
Levels of selenium, zinc, copper, and antioxidant enzyme activity in patients with leukemia.
Essential elements, mainly selenium and zinc, were involved in protection against oxidative stress in cells. Oxidation could lead to the formation of free radicals that have been implicated in the pathogenesis of many diseases, including leukemia. Leukemia is a neoplastic disease that is susceptible to antioxidant enzyme and essential elements alterations. ⋯ Increased GPx and Cu-Zn SOD activities and normal levels of LPO, which were a protective responses, were an indicator of mild oxidative stress; it might indicate that the essentials elements alterations in leukemia patients were mostly dependent on tumor activity. Changes of their levels demonstrated that there are low selenium, zinc, and high copper status in leukemia patients. The decrease of plasma zinc and increase of the Cu/Zn ratio could be the index that showed an unfavorable prognosis of acute leukemia.
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Biol Trace Elem Res · Jan 2006
Serum and hair levels of zinc, selenium, iron, and copper in children with iron-deficiency anemia.
In the present study, the serum and hair levels of zinc, selenium, and copper were determined in children with iron-deficiency anemia (IDA). A total of 52 anemic children aged 1-4 yr constituted the study group. Forty-six healthy children acted as controls. ⋯ Serum and hair selenium was determined by a spectroflourometric method. The serum zinc and selenium concentrations in the IDA group were found to be significantly lower and serum copper significantly higher than those in the controls (p < 0.05). Lower iron, zinc, and selenium concentrations (p < 0.001) but not copper were found in hair (p > 0.05).
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Biol Trace Elem Res · Jan 2006
Effect of coenzyme Q10 on catalase activity and other antioxidant parameters in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
Although coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a component of the oxidative phosphorylation process in mitochondria that converts the energy in carbohydrates and fatty acids into ATP to drive cellular machinery and synthesis, its effect in type I diabetes is not clear. We have studied the effect of 4 wk of treatment with CoQ10 (10 mg/kg, ip, daily) in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced (40 mg/kg, iv in adult rats) type I diabetes rat models. Treatment with CoQ10 produced a significant decrease in elevated levels of glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, very-low-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, and atherogenic index and increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in diabetic rats. ⋯ CoQ10 also lowered the elevated blood pressure in diabetic rats. In conclusion, CoQ10 treatment significantly improved deranged carbohydrate and lipid metabolism of experimental chemically induced diabetes in rats. The mechanism of its beneficial effect appears to be its antioxidant property.
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Biol Trace Elem Res · Jan 2006
Serum levels of trace elements and iron-deficiency anemia in adult Vietnamese.
This study was aimed at assessing the serum levels of vitamin A, copper, zinc, selenium, and iron among adult Vietnamese with and without iron-deficiency anemia. Blood was collected from adult Vietnamese living in the midland of northern Vietnam. One hundred twenty-three subjects in the age range 20-60 yr were included in the study. ⋯ The levels of vitamin Aand selenium in the sera of anemic subjects (n = 37) were significantly lower than that in nonanemic group (n = 86). On the other hand, no significant differences were observed in the concentrations of copper and zinc between the two groups. This study was the first to show serum levels of trace elements in adult Vietnamese, providing useful baseline information for further studies.