Evaluation of Status of Trace and Toxic Metals in Biological Samples (Scalp Hair, Blood, and Urine) of Normal and Anemic Children of Two Age Groups

Abstract

Anemia affects a substantial portion of the world's population, provoking severe health problems as well as important economic losses to the region in which this condition is found. This study was designed to compare the levels of essential trace and toxic elements in scalp hair, blood, and urine samples of anemic children (n = 132) with age range 1-5 and 6-10 years of both genders. For a comparative study, 134 non-anemic age- and sex-matched children as control subjects, residing in the same city, were selected. The metals in the biological samples were measured by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry/electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry prior to microwave-assisted acid digestion. The proposed method was validated using certified reference samples of hair, blood, and urine. The results indicated significantly lower levels of iron, copper, and zinc in the biological samples as compared to the control children of both genders (p = 0.01-0.008). The mean values of lead and cadmium were significantly high in all three biological samples of anemic children as compared to non-anemic children of both age groups (p = 0.005-0.001). The ratios of essential metal to toxic metals in the biological samples of anemic children of both age groups were significantly lower than that of controls. Deficiency of essential trace metals and high level of toxic metals may play a role in the development of anemia in the subjects under study.

Iron deficiency increases blood concentrations of neurotoxic metals in children

“…In contrast, assessment of the same study subjects showed that iron deficiency was associated with increased blood lead and manganese concentrations12,13). Our finding that iron deficiency and blood cadmium levels in infants are not related79) is compatible with some previous studies in children77,78) but not with others75,76). These discrepancies may be partly owing to differences in cadmium exposure levels or to the age distribution of study participants.…”

“…Furthermore, the studies performed in children have yielded conflicting results. Some studies reported an association between iron deficiency and cadmium75,76), whereas others found no such association77,78), and one study reported only an association between ferritin and cadmium concentrations in female adolescents53). Our recent study showed no association between iron deficiency and cadmium concentration in infants79).…”

Changed Plasma Levels of Zinc and Copper to Zinc Ratio and Their Possible Associations with Parent- and Teacher-Rated Symptoms in Children with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

“…A few studies have described the participation of Pb ions in the pathogenesis of ADHD and their relation to the symptoms of this disorder [26,34]. In our study, no differences in Pb levels between the study groups of children were observed.…”

Estimation of Serum Copper and Zinc in Anaemic Patients

“…It has been shown that children in infancy and early childhood are particularly susceptible to deficiency of iron and zinc and copper. This vulnerability is due to increased requirement for rapid growth which is frequently met by the diet [20][21][22][23][24][25]. Anemia often shows association with low serum zinc level as well as zinc deficiency status [26][27][28].…”