Serum Concentrations of Selected Heavy Metals in Patients with Alcoholic Liver Cirrhosis from the Lublin Region in Eastern Poland

According to the WHO report, alcohol is the third most significant health risk factor for the global population. There are contrary reports about heavy metals concentrations in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis. The aim of this study was to investigate serum concentrations of selected heavy metals in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis living in the eastern part of Poland according to cirrhosis stage. The participants came from various hospitals of the Lublin region were enrolled. The study group included 46 male and 16 female patients. The control group consisted of 18 healthy individuals without liver disease. High Performance Ion Chromatography was used to determine the concentrations of metal ions (Cd, Zn, Cu, Ni, Co, Mn, and Pb) in serum samples. The concentrations of copper, zinc, nickel, and cobalt were found to be significantly lower in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis compared to the control group. The serum concentration of cadmium was significantly higher in patients with advanced alcoholic liver cirrhosis compared to the control group. We hypothesize that disorders of metabolism of heavy metals seem to be the outcome of impaired digestion and absorption, which are common in cirrhosis, improper diet, environmental and occupational exposure.

[1]  A. Siwicki,et al.  Selected aspects of the action of cobalt ions in the human body , 2015, Central-European journal of immunology.

[2]  D. Bernhard,et al.  Combination of cadmium and high cholesterol levels as a risk factor for heart fibrosis. , 2015, Toxicological sciences : an official journal of the Society of Toxicology.

[3]  Alexandre Louvet,et al.  Alcoholic liver disease: mechanisms of injury and targeted treatment , 2015, Nature Reviews Gastroenterology &Hepatology.

[4]  C. Chow,et al.  Copper: toxicological relevance and mechanisms , 2014, Archives of Toxicology.

[5]  Blessy B. Mathew,et al.  Toxicity, mechanism and health effects of some heavy metals , 2014, Interdisciplinary toxicology.

[6]  Y. Lim,et al.  Effects of environmental cadmium exposure on liver function in adults , 2013, Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

[7]  Sumaira Khan,et al.  Investigation of essential trace and toxic elements in biological samples (blood, serum and scalp hair) of liver cirrhotic/cancer female patients before and after mineral supplementation. , 2012, Clinical nutrition.

[8]  Sirajuddin,et al.  Effects of Mineral Supplementation on Liver Cirrhotic/Cancer Male Patients , 2012, Biological Trace Element Research.

[9]  H. Czeczot,et al.  [Cadmium--element completely unnecessary for the organism]. , 2010, Postepy higieny i medycyny doswiadczalnej.

[10]  Peter J Sadler,et al.  Albumin as a zinc carrier: properties of its high-affinity zinc-binding site. , 2008, Biochemical Society transactions.

[11]  M. Petrovecki,et al.  Serum concentration of zinc, copper, manganese and magnesium in patients with liver cirrhosis. , 2006, Collegium antropologicum.

[12]  M. Anke,et al.  Elements and their compounds in the environment , 2004 .

[13]  Beverley Hale,et al.  Molecular and cellular mechanisms of cadmium carcinogenesis. , 2003, Toxicology.

[14]  M. Wawrzynowicz-Syczewska,et al.  Serum iron parameters in patients with alcoholic and chronic cirrhosis and hepatitis. , 2001, Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research.

[15]  B. Fowler,et al.  MECHANISMS OF NEPHROTOXICITY FROM METAL COMBINATIONS: A REVIEW , 2000, Drug and chemical toxicology.

[16]  D. Krieger,et al.  Manganese and chronic hepatic encephalopathy , 1995, The Lancet.

[17]  A. Duchini,et al.  Lipoperoxidation, trace elements and vitamin E in patients with liver cirrhosis , 1994 .

[18]  P. Adams,et al.  Hepatic iron and zinc concentrations after portacaval shunting for nonalcoholic cirrhosis , 1994, Hepatology.

[19]  A. Townshend.  Metals and their Compounds in the Environment. Occurrence, Analysis and Biological Relevance , 1993 .

[20]  M. Barry,et al.  Tissue zinc status and drug elimination in patients with chronic liver disease. , 1990, Clinical science.

[21]  H. F. Goode,et al.  Relation between zinc status and hepatic functional reserve in patients with liver disease. , 1990, Gut.

[22]  M. Fields,et al.  Alcohol consumption aggravates copper deficiency. , 1990, Metabolism: clinical and experimental.

[23]  J. Duchateau,et al.  ORAL ZINC SUPPLEMENTATION IMPROVES HEPATIC ENCEPHALOPATHY Results of a Randomised Controlled Trial , 1984, The Lancet.

[24]  F. Sunderman,et al.  Abnormal concentrations of nickel in serum in cases of myocardial infarction, stroke, burns, hepatic cirrhosis, and uremia. , 1971, Clinical chemistry.

[25]  D. Taylor,et al.  Relation Between Cirrhosis and Trace Metal Content of Liver , 1963, British medical journal.

[26]  A. Prystupa,et al.  Use of ion chromatography for the determination of selected metals in blood serum of patients with type 2 diabetes. , 2010, Journal of trace elements in medicine and biology : organ of the Society for Minerals and Trace Elements.

[27]  A. Błażewicz,et al.  Determination of cadmium, cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, and zinc in thyroid glands of patients with diagnosed nodular goitre using ion chromatography. , 2010, Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences.

[28]  J. Vogt,et al.  Role of zinc in regulating the levels of hepatic elements following nickel toxicity in rats , 2007, Biological Trace Element Research.

[29]  K. Okita,et al.  The Role of Copper and Zinc as Pathogenic Factors in Liver Disease , 1990 .

[30]  C. McClain,et al.  Zinc deficiency in the alcoholic: a review. , 1983, Alcoholism, clinical and experimental research.