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

Andrzej Prystupa, Anna Błażewicz, Paweł Kiciński, Jarosław J. Sak, Jarosław Niedziałek and Wojciech Załuska
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Andrzej Prystupa: Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Lublin, Staszica 16, 20-081 Lublin, Poland
Anna Błażewicz: Department of Analytical Chemistry, Medical University of Lublin, Chodźki 4a (Collegium Pharmaceuticum), 20-093 Lublin, Poland
Paweł Kiciński: Department of Family Medicine, Medical University of Lublin, Staszica 11, 20-081 Lublin, Poland
Jarosław J. Sak: Department of Ethics and Human Philosophy, Medical University of Lublin, Staszica 4/6 (Collegium Maximum), 20-059 Lublin, Poland
Jarosław Niedziałek: Individual Medical Practice, Lublin, Ludwika Hirszfelda 5/11, 20-092 Lublin, Poland
Wojciech Załuska: Department of Nephrology, Medical University of Lublin, Jaczewskiego 8, 20-954 Lublin, Poland

IJERPH, 2016, vol. 13, issue 6, 1-11

Abstract: 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.

Keywords: liver cirrhosis; alcohol; heavy metals; microelements (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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