Zinc and Copper Status in Patients with Sickle Cell Anemia

Abstract

Plasma zinc and copper concentrations were determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy in 57 patients with sickle cell anemia and in 45 control subjects from the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Plasma zinc and copper levels in patients were found to be close to those of the control subjects. Similarly, there was a difference neither in urinary zinc level nor in the ratio Cu:Zn in patients and control subjects. This is in contrast to the situation which exists in North American Black subjects with sickle cell anemia, who are known to have zinc deficiency as well as a further decrease in zinc level during sickle cell crises. The near-normaLlevels of zinc and copper found in Saudi sickle cell patients therefore exclude zinc deficiency and confirm that this population exhibits a milder form of sickle cell anemia.

A Comparative Study of Zinc and Copper Values in Serum, Erythrocytes and Urine in Sickle Cell Homozygotes and Heterozygotes

“…In contrast to our findings, Alayash et al (5) have found near-normal levels of zinc and copper in Saudi Arabian patients; but they measured the zinc and copper levels only in plasma and urine but not in red blood cells. Also, this difference may be due to the above-mentioned reasons and on the molecular differential basis, for example, the haplotypes (6).…”

Albumin, copper, manganese and cobalt levels in children suffering from sickle cell anemia at Kasumbalesa, in Democratic Republic of Congo

“…In this study, the mean copper level did not vary significantly between the two groups, which is similar to the findings reported by Alayash et al in Saudi Arabia, and by Kehinde et al in Nigeria [ 11 , 15 ]. However, our results are different with the previous worldwide reports in which they found a significantly higher serum copper in sickle cell patients compared with controls [ 2 , 14 , 17 – 19 ].…”

“…SCA is associated with increased risks of multiple micronutrient deficiencies but no significant differences found in the levels of copper and albumin in SCA adults compared to Hb-AA adults [ 8 ]. These nutriments have a major role in the protection of the red cell membrane against stress free radical mediated by oxidation in SCA [ 9 – 11 ]. Children suffering from SCA have significantly lower serum levels of zinc, magnesium and selenium [ 12 ].…”

Copper and Zinc Quotient in Haemoglobinopathies

“…Some contradicting reports state that copper and zinc was normal in Sickle cell anemic patients of eastern Province of Saudi Arabia but opposite condition was observed in sickle cell anemic subjects of North American Black 87 . In case of the comparative study carried on Serum copper and zinc levels in sickle cell anaemia and betathalassaemia in North Jordan, copper levels were significantly increased in beta-thalassaemia and sickle cell anaemia where as zinc levels were significantly increased in beta-thalassemia but significantly decreased in Sickle cell anaemia [SCA] 88 .…”