Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 13, 2026
Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Multiple Sclerosis at 7.0 Tesla
Published on: February 19, 2021
Comparison of serum Concentration of Se, Pb, Mg, Cu, Zn, between MS patients and healthy controls
Anahita Alizadeh1, Omid Mehrpour2, Karim Nikkhah3
1MD, Pediatrician, Fellowship of Toxicology, Assistant Professor, Department of Clinical Toxicology, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Introduction:
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is defined as one of the inflammatory autoimmune disorders and is common. Its exact etiology is unclear. There are some evidences on the role of environmental factors in susceptible genetics. The aim of this study is to evaluate the possible role of Selenium, Zinc, Copper, Lead and Magnesium metals in Multiple Sclerosis patients.
Methods:
In the present analytical cross-sectional study, 56 individuals including 26 patients and 30 healthy controls were enrolled in the evaluation. The serum level of Se, Zn, Cu, Pb were quantified in graphite furnace conditions and flame conditions by utilizing an atomic absorption Perkin Elmer spectrophotometer 3030. The serum levels of Mg were measured by auto analyzer 1500 BT. The mean level of minerals (Zn, Pb, Cu, Mg, Se) in serum samples were compared in both cases and controls. The mean level of minerals (Zn, Pb, Cu, Mg, Se) in serum samples were compared in both cases and controls by using independent-samples t-test for normal distribution and Mann-Whitney U test as a non-parametric test. All statistical analyses were carried out using SPSS 11.0.
Results:
As well as the Zn, Cu, and Se, there was no significant difference between MS patients and healthy individuals in Pb concentrations (p-value = 0.11, 0.14, 0.32, 0.20 respectively) but the level of Mg was significantly different (p= 0.001).
Conclusion:
All serum concentrations of Zn, Pb, Se, Cu in both groups were in normal ranges and there was no difference in MS patients compared with the healthy group who were matched in genetics. Blood level of Mg was significantly lower in MS patients. But it should be noted that even with the low level of serum magnesium in MS patients, this value is still in the normal range.
Insights
This study found no significant differences in serum levels of Selenium, Zinc, Copper, and Lead between Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients and healthy controls. However, Magnesium levels were significantly lower in MS patients, though still within the normal range.
Area of Science:
- Environmental toxicology
- Neuroimmunology
- Clinical chemistry
Background:
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a common inflammatory autoimmune disorder with unclear etiology.
- Environmental factors and genetics are implicated in MS development.
- This study investigated the role of specific metals in MS patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the potential association between serum levels of Selenium (Se), Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu), Lead (Pb), and Magnesium (Mg) and Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 26 MS patients and 30 healthy controls.
- Serum metal concentrations (Se, Zn, Cu, Pb, Mg) were measured using atomic absorption spectrophotometry and an autoanalyzer.
- Statistical comparison between groups included independent-samples t-test and Mann-Whitney U test.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in serum concentrations of Zn, Cu, Se, and Pb were observed between MS patients and controls.
- Serum Magnesium (Mg) levels were significantly lower in MS patients compared to healthy controls (p=0.001).
Conclusions:
- Serum levels of Zn, Pb, Se, and Cu were not significantly different between MS patients and genetically matched controls.
- MS patients exhibited significantly lower serum Mg levels, although these remained within the normal physiological range.
