Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 15, 2025
Assessing Iron Deposition in the Brains of 5xFAD Mice by Perls'/DAB Staining
Published on: May 23, 2025
Serum levels of heavy metals in patients with Bell's palsy: a case-control study
Nazim Bozan1, Ömer Faruk Koçak2, Canser Yılmaz Demir2
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Medical Faculty, Van Yüzüncü Yıl University, Van, 65090, Turkey. drnzmbozan@hotmail.com.
Purpose:
The exact etiology of Bell's palsy (BP) remains unknown, while its potential etiopathology includes neuritis and inflammation-related demyelination as in optic neuritis. It has been reported that disruption of heavy metal homeostasis may be associated with the inflammatory process of optic neuritis; therefore, heavy metals may be involved in the pathogenesis of facial nerve neuritis. In this study, we aimed to investigate serum levels of heavy metals including essential elements [iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), cobalt (Co), and manganese (Mn)], and nonessential elements [lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd)] in patients with BP.
Methods:
The study included 25 patients with BP and 31 healthy volunteers. For each participant, serum levels of essential and nonessential elements were measured using the atomic absorption spectrophotometer method.
Results:
Serum levels of essential elements were significantly lower in the patient group compared to the control group (p < 0.001, for each). Serum levels of Pb increased in the patient group compared to the control group although no significant difference was achieved (p = 0.105). In contrast, serum Cd levels increased significantly in the patient group compared to the control group (p < 0.001).
Conclusion:
Our findings suggest that decreased essential and increased nonessential elements may be associated with BP and thus, serum concentrations of these elements should be taken into account in BP. Studies are warranted to determine the role of these elements in treatment of BP.
