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[Zinc and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].
M T León-Espinosa de los Monteros1, B Gil Extremera, A Maldonado Martín
1Servicio de Medicina Interna A, Hospital Clínico San Cecilio, Granada.
Revista Clinica Espanola
|March 10, 2001
Summary
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients show lower zinc levels in hair, indicating potential chronic zinc deficiency. This deficiency may increase susceptibility to infections in individuals with COPD.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Clinical Medicine
- Nutritional Science
Context:
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a complex respiratory condition with potential links to nutritional status.
- Zinc is an essential trace element involved in immune function and cellular processes.
Purpose:
- To investigate zinc concentrations in various biological samples (serum, erythrocytes, nails, hair) of COPD patients compared to a control group.
- To determine the relationship between serum zinc levels and zinc concentrations in erythrocytes, nails, and hair in COPD patients.
Summary:
- COPD patients exhibited significantly lower zinc concentrations in hair compared to healthy controls (156 ± 46 µg/g vs. 185 ± 64 µg/g, p < 0.05).
- No significant differences in zinc levels were observed in blood, intraerythrocytic, or nail samples between COPD patients and controls.
- Smoking and alcohol consumption did not correlate with body zinc concentrations in either group.
Impact:
- Hair zinc concentration may serve as a reliable biomarker for assessing chronic zinc deficiency in humans.
- COPD patients may be at increased risk of developing zinc deficiency, potentially elevating their susceptibility to infectious diseases.