Research Journal of Pharmacy and Technology

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access
Open Access Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Restricted Access Subscription Access

Evaluation of Trace Elements and Heavy Metals in Schizophrenic Patients in Iraq


Affiliations
1 Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, Iraq
2 College of Health and Medical Technology, Foundation of Technical Education, Baghdad, Iraq
3 Kimadia Company, Ministry of Health, Baghdad, Iraq
     

   Subscribe/Renew Journal


Schizophrenia is a mental disorder with abnormality in social behaviour and failure to understand what is real. It has been found that approximately 1% of the population worldwide is affected with schizophrenia. Although several studies have been conducted to assess and try to early detection of schizophrenia, however most of these studies still deficient. Therefore, this study was design to investigate and evaluate the expected association between the levels of trace elements (Se, Cu, Zn, Ni, Cr, Mn, Mg, Pb, Co, Fe and Al) and the risk of schizophrenia. Levels of these elements were determined in sera of 60 patients with schizophrenia using atomic absorption spectrophotometry technique and the alterations of these critical variables were analyzed in comparison with 60 healthy controls to try prediction of the occurrence and progression of disease. The results obtained showed a significant increase in the levels of Se, Cu, Ni, Cr and Mn, in contrast to significant decrease in the levels of Zn, Mg, Pb, Co and Al in schizophrenic patients compared to the healthy control group. The data analysis revealed the presence of valuable correlations between most of elements in schizophrenic patients. According to the finding of the present work, it can be suggested that these elements may have a vital role and prognostic significance in complex disorders leading to schizophrenia. The real mechanism responsible for the alterations in elements levels in patients with schizophrenia is unclear and requires additional evaluation. Therefore, further universal studies are wanted in order to advance understanding of the relationship between trace elements and their role in schizophrenia.

Keywords

Schizophrenia, Trace Elements, Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry, Se, Cu, Pb.
Subscription Login to verify subscription
User
Notifications
Font Size


  • U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Mental Health, (2016). Schizophrenia. USA.

  • World Health Organization (2015). Schizophrenia Fact sheet: WHO’s Mental Health Action Plan 2013-2020.

  • Riecher-R¨ossler A., Rybakowski J.K., Pflueger M.O., Beyrau R., Kahn R.S., Malik P. and Fleischhacker W.W. Hyperprolactinemia in antipsychotic-naive patients with first episode psychosis. Psychological Medicine (2013); 43(12): 2571–2582.

  • Herson M. Etiological considerations. Adult psychopathology and diagnosis. John Wiley & Sons. 2011.

  • Bushe C.J., Taylor M. and Haukka J. Mortality in schizophrenia: a measurable clinical endpoint. Journal of Psychopharmacology. 24 (4_supplement); 2010; 17-25.

  • Owen M.J., Sawa A. and Mortensen P.B. Schizophrenia. The Lancet, (2016); 388(10039): 86-97.

  • Kavanagh D.H., Tansey K.E., O'Donovan M.C. and Owen M.J. Schizophrenia genetics: emerging themes for a complex disorder. Molecular Psychiatry. (2014); 20(1): 72–76.

  • Al-Fartusie F.S., Marzook A.T. and Morad T.S. Study of some trace elements and antioxidant vitamins in sera of Iraqi women with toxoplasmosis, Al-Mustansiriyah Journal of Science, (2012); 23(3): 199-206.

  • Thangavel K. Selenium properties for anti-cancer. Research Journal of Pharmacy and Technology, (2017); 10(10)::3595-3597.

  • Nielsen F.H., Hunt J.R. Trace elements emerging as important in human nutrition. In: Stumbo, P. J. eds. Proceedings of the fourteenth national databank conference. Univ. Iowa, Iowa City. 1989; 135-143.

  • Al-Fartusie F.S., Hafudh A., Mustafa N., Al-Bermani H. And Majid A.Y. Levels of Some Trace Elements in Sera of Patients with Lung Cancer and in Smokers. Indian Journal of Advances in Chemical Science (2017); 5(4): 344-352.

  • Srilekha. M. Copper and Zinc Level in Oral Submucosal Fibrosis (OSMF) Patients. Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research , (2015); 7(8): 573-574.

  • Al-Fartusie F.S. and Mohssan S. N. Essential trace elements and their vital roles in human body, Indian Journal of Advances in Chemical Science, (2017); 5(3): 127-136.

  • Rothery E. Analytical methods for atomic absorption, Varian Instruments AA at Work, AA-93, Varian Australia Pty Ltd, 1990.

  • Lu J. and Holmgren A. Selenoproteins. Journal of Biological Chemistry (2009); 284:723–727.

  • Benton D. Selenium Intake, Mood and Other Aspects of Psychological Functioning. Nutritional Neuroscience (2013); 5(6):363-374.

  • Pillai R., Uyehara-Lock J.H. and Bellinger F.P. Selenium and selenoprotein function in brain disorders. IUBMB Life, (2014); 66: 229–239.

  • George A., Ruth T., Elsie A., Bernice A. And Derek D. Toxicity, Deficiency and Dysmetabolism of Trace Elements in Ghanaian Clinically Stable Schizophrenics. Macedonian Journal of Medical Sciences. (2014); 2(2):293-298.

  • Kharb S., Sharma A., Vohra A.K., Yadav S. and Singh I. Selenium levels in patients with schizophrenia. Journal of Medical Laboratory and Diagnosis, 1; 2010; 15- 16.

  • Yanik M., Kocyigit A., Tutkun H., Vural H. and Herken H. Plasma manganese, selenium, zinc, copper, and iron concentrations in patients with schizophrenia. Biological Trace Element Research. (2004); 98(2):109-117.

  • Rahman A., Azad M.A., Hossain I., Qusar M.M., Bari W., Begum F., Huq S.M. and Hasnat A. Zinc, Manganese, Calcium, Copper, and Cadmium Level in Scalp Hair Samples of Schizophrenic Patients. Biological Trace Element Research. (2009); 127(2):102– 108.

  • Liu T., Lu Q.-B., Yan L., Guo J., Feng F., Qiu J. and Wang, J. Comparative Study on Serum Levels of 10 Trace Elements in Schizophrenia. PLoS ONE, (2015); 10(7): e0133622.

  • Araya M., Pizarro F., Olivares M., Arredondo M., González M. and Méndez M. Understanding copper homeostasis in humans and copper effects on health. Biological Research, (2006); 39(1):183– 187.

  • Brisch R., Saniotis A., Wolf R., Bielau H., Bernstein H-G.,Steiner J, Bogerts B., Braun K., Jankowski Z.,Kumaratilake J.,HennebergM.,andGos T. The Role of Dopamine in Schizophrenia from a Neurobiological and Evolutionary Perspective: Old Fashioned, but Still in Vogue. Frontiers in Psychiatry,(2014); 5: 47.

  • Wolf T.L., Kotun J. and Meador-Woodruff J.H. Plasma copper, iron, ceruloplasmin and ferroxidase activity in schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Research,(2006); 86:167–171.

  • Dhalla N.S., Golfman L., Takeda S., Takeda N. and Nagano M. Evidence for the role of oxidative stress in acute ischemic heart disease: a brief review. Canadian Journal of Cardiology, (1999); 15(5): 587-593.

  • Cai L., Chen T., Yang J., Zhou K., Yan X., Chen W., Sun L., Li L., Qin S., Wang P., Yang P., Cui D., Burmeister M., He L., Jia W. and Wan C. Serum trace element differences between Schizophrenia patients and controls in the Han Chinese population. Scientific Reports (2015); 5: 15013.

  • Chen X., Li Y., Zhang T., Yao Y., Shen C. and Xue Y. Association of Serum Trace Elements with Schizophrenia and Effects of Antipsychotic Treatment. Biological Trace Element Research. 2017; 1-9.

  • Sharma S.K., Sood S., Sharma A. and Gupta I.D. Estimation of serum zinc and copper levels patients with schizophrenia: a preliminary study. Sri Lanka Journal of Psychiatry, (2014); 5(1): 14-17.

  • Susser E., Neugebauer R., Hoek H.W., Brown A.S., Lin S., Labovitz D. and Gorman J.M. Schizophrenia after prenatal famine. Further evidence. Archives of General Psychiatry, (1996); 53(1):25-31.

  • Pfeiffer C.C. and Ilier U.A. A study of zinc deficiency and copper excess in schizophrenias, International Review of Neurobiology,(1972); 1:141–165.

  • Kazi T. G., Wadhwa S. K., Afridi H. I., Talpur F. N. Tuzen M. and Baig J. A. Comparison of essential and toxic elements in esophagus, lung, mouth and urinary bladder male cancer patients with related to controls. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, (2015); 22(10):7705-7715.

  • Das K.K., Das S.N. and Dhundasi S.A. Nickel, its adverse health effects & oxidative stress. Indian Journal of Medical Research, (2008); 128(4): 412-425.

  • American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Association, 2013.

  • Yao H., Guo L., Jiang B.H., Luo J. and Shi X. Review Oxidative stress and chromium (VI) carcinogenesis. Journal of Environmental Pathology, Toxicology and Oncology. (2008); 27(2):77-88.

  • Li Z., Liu Y., Li X., Ju W., Wu G., Yang X., Fu X. and Gao X. Association of Elements with Schizophrenia and Intervention of Selenium Supplements. Biological Trace Element Research. PMID: (2017); 28812245: 1-6.

  • Pfeiffer C. and LaMola S. Zinc and Manganese in the Schizophrenias. Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine (1999); 14(1): 28-48.

  • Bowman A.B., Kwakye G.F., Herrero Hernández E. and Aschner M. Role of manganese in neurodegenerative diseases. Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology. (2011); 25(4):191–203.

  • Malecki E.A. Manganese toxicity is associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and DNA fragmentation in rat primary striatal neurons. Brain Research Bulletin. (2001); 55(2):225–228.

  • Benes F.M., Walsh J., Bhattacharyya S., Sheth A. and Berretta S. DNA fragmentation decreased in schizophrenia but not bipolar disorder. Archives of General Psychiatry. (2003); 60(4):359-364.

  • Shohag H., Ullah A., Qusar S., Rahman M. and Hasnat A. Alterations of serum zinc, copper, manganese, iron, calcium, and magnesium concentrations and the complexity of interelement relations in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Biological Trace Element Research.(2012); 148(3):275–280.

  • Fukushima T., Tan X., Luo Y. and Kanda H. Relationship between blood levels of heavy metals and Parkinson's disease in China. Neuroepidemiology. (2010); 34(1):18–24.

  • Michal O., Joanna M., Elzbieta M., Tadeusz N. and Magdalena BZ. Magnesium in schizophrenia, Pharmacological Reports. (2017); 69(5):929-934.

  • Alexander P.E., Van Kammen D.P. and Bunney W.E. Serum calcium and magnesium in schizophrenia, relationship to clinical phenomena and neuroleptic treatment. The British Journal of Psychiatry.(1978); 133: 143-49.

  • Scorza F.A., Albuquerque M.d., Arida R.M. and Cysneiros R.M. Serum levels of magnesium in sudden cardiac deaths among people with schizophrenia: hit or miss? Arquivos de NeuroPsiquiatria, (2012); 70(10): 814-816.

  • Stanley P.C. and Wakwe V.C. Toxic trace metals in the mentally ill patients. The Nigerian Postgraduate Medical Journal. (2002); 9(4):199-204.

  • Arinola G., Idonije B., Akinlade K. and Ihenyen O. Essential trace metals and heavy metals in newly diagnosed schizophrenic patients and those on anti-psychotic medication. Journal of Research in Medical Sciences. (2010); 5(5):245-9.

  • Lidsky T.I. and Schneider J.S. Review Lead neurotoxicity in children: basic mechanisms and clinical correlates. Brain. 126(Pt 1); 2003; 5-19.

  • Cory-Slechta D.A., Virgolini M.B., Thiruchelvam M., Weston D.D. and Bauter M.R. Maternal stress modulates the effects of developmental lead exposure. Environmental Health Perspectives. (2004); 112(6):717-30.

  • Hunt A., Harrington D. and Robinson S. Vitamin B12 deficiency. BMJ. (2014); 349: g5226.

  • Youdim M. B. and Riederer P. The role of iron in sensescence of dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson’s disease.Journal of Neural Transmission. (1993); 40(Suppl.): 57–67.

  • Weiser M., Levkowitch Y., Neuman M. andYehuda S. Decrease of serum iron in acutely psychotic schizophrenic patients. International Journal of Neuroscience. (1994); 78(1-2):49-52.

  • Krewski D., Yokel R.A., Nieboer E., Borchelt D., Cohen J., Harry J., Kacew S., Lindsay J., Mahfouz A.M.andRondeau V. Human health risk assessment for aluminium, aluminium oxide, and aluminium hydroxide. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health. Part B, Critical Reviews. (2007); 10 Suppl 1:1-269.

  • Milanese M., Lkhayat M.I. andZatta P. Inhibitory effect of aluminum on dopamine beta-hydroxylase from bovine adrenal gland. Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology. (2001); 15(2-3):139-141.

  • Yokel R.A. The toxicology of aluminum in the brain: a review. Neurotoxicology. (2000); 21(5):813-828.

  • Hyder H.H., Emad K., Beidaa A.K., Khalid H., Qassim S. and Shaymaa A. Study the Impact of the Trace Elements between the Healthy Females and who take Chemotherapy for samples of Sera. Research Journal of Pharmacy and Technology, (2017); 10(10):3323-3325.


Abstract Views: 220

PDF Views: 0




  • Evaluation of Trace Elements and Heavy Metals in Schizophrenic Patients in Iraq

Abstract Views: 220  |  PDF Views: 0

Authors

Falah S. Al-Fartusie
Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, Iraq
Saja N. Mohssan
Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, Iraq
Farhan A. Risan
College of Health and Medical Technology, Foundation of Technical Education, Baghdad, Iraq
Ahmed H. Yousif
Kimadia Company, Ministry of Health, Baghdad, Iraq

Abstract


Schizophrenia is a mental disorder with abnormality in social behaviour and failure to understand what is real. It has been found that approximately 1% of the population worldwide is affected with schizophrenia. Although several studies have been conducted to assess and try to early detection of schizophrenia, however most of these studies still deficient. Therefore, this study was design to investigate and evaluate the expected association between the levels of trace elements (Se, Cu, Zn, Ni, Cr, Mn, Mg, Pb, Co, Fe and Al) and the risk of schizophrenia. Levels of these elements were determined in sera of 60 patients with schizophrenia using atomic absorption spectrophotometry technique and the alterations of these critical variables were analyzed in comparison with 60 healthy controls to try prediction of the occurrence and progression of disease. The results obtained showed a significant increase in the levels of Se, Cu, Ni, Cr and Mn, in contrast to significant decrease in the levels of Zn, Mg, Pb, Co and Al in schizophrenic patients compared to the healthy control group. The data analysis revealed the presence of valuable correlations between most of elements in schizophrenic patients. According to the finding of the present work, it can be suggested that these elements may have a vital role and prognostic significance in complex disorders leading to schizophrenia. The real mechanism responsible for the alterations in elements levels in patients with schizophrenia is unclear and requires additional evaluation. Therefore, further universal studies are wanted in order to advance understanding of the relationship between trace elements and their role in schizophrenia.

Keywords


Schizophrenia, Trace Elements, Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry, Se, Cu, Pb.

References