Serum levels of selenium, zinc, copper and magnesium in asthmatic patients : a case control study

Abstract EN

Background : Free radicals have harmful effects on cells and tissues and are thought to be responsible for the pathogenesis of many diseases including bronchial asthma.

Selenium (Se), Zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and magnesium (Mg) are trace elements required for the antioxidant enzymes and hence the optimal functions of the immune system.

Changes in the levels of these elements may lead to a reduction in antioxidant activities in asthma.

Objective : this study was conducted to determine serum levels of the trace elements Se, Zn, Cu, and Mg in asthmatic patients in order to evaluate the associations of these nutrients with asthma in adults Subjects and Methods : serum Se, Zn, Cu, and Mg concentrations were measured in 100 asthmatic adult patients and 170 healthy control subjects matched for age and sex.

The patients were recruited from asthma casualties, referred clinics and wards of Elshaab and Omdurman Teaching Hospital, Khartoum Sudan.

Socio-demographic data and clinical history of all subjects were collected in questionnaires.

Results : serum Se and Cu levels were found to be significantly decreased in asthmatic patients compared to controls.

Mean serum Se and Cu for patients were 65.8 ± 5.5 ; g / l (mean ± SD) and 0.711 ± 0.37g / l respectively while that for controls were 78.2 ± 7.5 ;g / l and 0.939± 0.322g / l respectively (P value was < 0.001).

On the other hand the mean serum Zn level was significantly higher in patients compared to controls (1.2 ± 0.51 g / l and 0.94 ± 0.254g / l respectively) (P value was < 0.001).

No significant difference was found in the mean serum Mg level between patients and controls (16.4 ± 4.2 g / l and 16.3 ± 2.89g / l) (P value was 0.825).

Conclusions : the observed changes in the levels of the trace elements which were a decrease in serum copper and selenium and an increase in zinc may affect the antioxidant enzymes’ functions, and decrease the antioxidant capacity in asthma.