Journal of J. Trace Elements Med. BioI. Vol. J 2, pp. 44 - 49 (1998) Trace Elements In Medicine and Biology Clinical Study © 1998 by Gustav Fischer Verlag Serum Zinc and Copper Concentrations and Cu/Zn ratios in Patients with Hepatopathies or Diabetes e. TERRES-MARTOS, M. NAVARRO-ALARCON, F. MARTIN-LAGOS, H. LOPEZ-G a DE LA SERRANA, V. PEREZ-VALERO* and M.e. LOPEZ-MARTINEZ Department of Nutrition and Bromatology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, E-18071-Granada, Spain; *Hospital of Motril, Motril, Granada, Spain (Received May/October 1997) Summary The serum zinc and copper levels, as well as Zn/Cu ratios, were determined in 30 patients (18 with diabetes and 12 with hepatopathies) and compared to healthy-age matched controls by atomic absorption spectrometry. Serum Zn (0.946 ± 0.302 mg/I) and Cu (0.952 ± 0.355 mg/l) concentrations were not significantlydifferent in patients with hepatopathies as compared to controls (p>0.05). Serum Zn concentrations (0.778 ± 0.164 mg/l) were significantly lower in diabetic patients than those determined in controls (p<O.Ol). In contrast, Cu levels (0.987 ± 0.305 mg/l) were not significantly different (p>0.05) than in controls. Serum Cu/Zn ratios were not significantly different in patients with diabetes or hepatopathies than those measured in healthy controls (p>0.05). In patients, no statistically significant differences were observed in the Zn, Cu and Cu/Zn with respect to sex (p>0.05) or age (p>0.05). Keywords: Zinc, copper, Cu/Zn ratios, serum, hepatopathies, diabetes. Introduction Recently, certain minerals have been identified as es- sential trace elements that play an important role in the genesis and progression of several diseases. Some pathol- ogies have also been related to alteration in the homeosta- sis of certain elements (1). In particular, zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) have been recognised as co-factors of super- oxide dismutase, which is involved in organism protec- tion against oxidative processes (2,3). In patients with severe hepatic damage such as cirrho- sis low serum and piasma Zn levels has been found (4,5). Therefore, it can be assumed that severe Zn deficiencies Reprint requests to: Dr. Miguel Navarro-Alarc6n, Deparment of Nutrition and Bromato)ogy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, E-1807J Granada, Spain. in the diet decrease superoxide dismutase activity and, consequently, increase lipid peroxidation, which stimu- lates the development of hepatic diseases (6). This is pos- sible due to alterations in urea metabolism (7). In humans an improvement in hepatic alterations induced by various substances has been observed after Zn supplementation (8). Additionally, in individuals with hepatic damage, modified serum Cu concentrations were found (9-11). In diabetic subjects experimental studies have been carried out on serum and plasma Zn and Cu levels, pro- ducing contradictory results. As regards Zn, most studies related the alteration in body Zn metabolism to higher Zn levels eliminated in urine, and found it responsible for the production of lower plasma and muscle Zn concentra- tions, especially in non-insulin diabetic patients as com- pared to controls (12,13). In contrast, other authors did