Serum zinc and magnesium levels in patients with blastocystosis

The aim of the study was to investigate the total content of the essential elements of zinc and magnesium levels in patients infected with Blastocystis hominis. Zinc and magnesium concentrations were measured in 52 patients who were positive for the intestinal parasite Blastocystis hominis. Scores were obtained for the positives and their age- and sex-matched 60 Blastocystis hominis-negative healthy controls. For comparison of two groups of continuous variables, the independent samples t-test was used. The mean concentration of magnesium in blood was significantly lower in Blastocystis hominis-positive patients than in their controls both in females (p < 0.05) and males (p < 0.05). The average zinc concentration in Blastocystis hominis-positive female patients was 0.61 +/- 0.2 mg/L and 0.60 +/- 0.2 mg/L in controls (p > 0.05). The mean values of the zinc in blood were 0.62 +/- 0.2 mg/L in Blastocystis hominis-positive male patients and 0.82 +/- 0.1 in controls (p > 0.05). No correlation could be demonstrated between age and mean values of zinc and magnesium in Blastocystis-positive females/males and controls (p > 0.05). No significant correlation could be found between blood zinc and magnesium levels in Blastocystis-positive female/male patients and controls (p > 0.05). Magnesium levels were found to be clearly decreased, whereas no change was observed in zinc levels in the patients with Blastocystis compared to controls.