High Copper and Low Zinc Serum Levels in Iranian Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: A Case Control Study
Ghazavi, A.; Kianbakht, S.; Ghasami, K.; Mosayebi, G.
Clinical Laboratory 58(1-2): 161-164
2012
ISSN/ISBN: 1433-6510 PMID: 22372359 Document Number: 12897
Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the levels of zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) in the serum of Iranian patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods: The serum levels of zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) were measured in sixty Iranian patients with MS and compared with sixty age-, gender- and socioeconomic status-matched healthy subjects without any neurological disorders as controls from the same geographical area. Results: Significantly lower serum Zn and higher serum Cu levels were found in the MS patients compared with the controls (p<0.0001 and p=0.002, respectively). The serum Zn level of the secondary-progressive MS patients was significantly lower compared with the relapsing-remitting MS patients (p=0.009). There was no significant difference between the serum Cu levels of the two subgroup of MS patients (p=0.42). Conclusions: The results suggest significant deviations of the Iranian MS patients' serum Zn and Cu levels from the norm.
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