Relationship between Blood Levels of Heavy Metals and Parkinson’s Disease in China

Abstract

Background: Idiopathic Parkinson’s disease (PD) and the Parkinsonian syndrome caused by manganese (Mn) poisoning are known to be indistinguishable in terms of symptoms. We thus suspect that many patients who have accumulated Mn in the body in daily life are diagnosed as having idiopathic PD. We examined the relationship between PD and blood levels of heavy metals, and the influence of intake from food in a general population. Methods: The subjects comprised PD patients and sex- and age-matched controls recruited from the outpatient clinic of Xiangfan No. 1 People’s Hospital in Hubei, China, between 2006 and 2008. Information was obtained on previous eating habits before diagnosis of PD and other factors. Morning blood samples were collected before breakfast and were used to measure concentrations of metals. Results: The whole-blood Mn and serum iron (Fe) levels were significantly higher in PD patients than in controls. However, no differences in intake of each metal from food or experience of Mn poisoning were seen between the groups. Conclusions: In China, accumulation of Mn and Fe via unknown routes might be involved in the etiology of PD in the general population.

Correlations Among Heavy Metals in Blood and Urine and Their Relations to Depressive Symptoms in Parkinson’s Disease Patients

“…The controls were matched regarding sex and age (±3 years), had no PD or depression, but symptoms such as headache and dizziness. In the previous study with the same subjects, no differences were seen in intake of each metal, energy, protein, fat, carbohydrate or dietary fiber between the PD patients and the controls 12) . PD was diagnosed according to the criteria of the UK Parkinson's Disease Society Brain Bank 13) .…”

Heavy Metals in Blood and Urine and Its Relation to Depressive Symptoms in Parkinson's Disease Patients

“…Urine Fe was also significantly higher in the PD patients without depression than in the controls. Because in our previous study, positive correlations between whole -blood Mn and serum Fe concentrations were seen in both PD patients and controls in a general population in China, a route of simultaneous intake of Mn and Fe should exist 6) . From these results excessive intake of Fe and accumulation of Mn seemed to be involved in the etiology of nondepressive PD.…”

“…Subjects were same as the previous report 6) and comprised 82 PD patients (47 men, 35 women ; mean (±standard deviation) age, 64.0±9.4 years) who had been patients for <3 years and were recruited from the outpatient clinic of Xiangfan No. 1 People's Hospital in Hubei, China between 2006 and 2008, and sex -and age -matched (±3 years) controls (n=82 ; mean age, 63.7±9.4 years) with no PD, but with symptoms such as headache and dizziness, who were recruited from the same outpatient clinic at the same time.…”

“…Idiopathic PD and parkinsonian syndrome caused by Mn poisoning are known to be undistinguishable in terms of symptoms, and we suspect that many patients who have accumulated Mn in the body in daily life are diagnosed with idiopathic PD, or some heavy metals are involved in the etiology of idiopathic PD. In our previous study 6,7) , the blood and urine levels of Mn, iron (Fe), Cu and Zn, and serum vitamin E (VE) and VB 12 8) . Lemke et al 9) reported anxiety and depression as risk factors for development of PD, possibly being present many years before the appearance of motor symptoms.…”

Heavy Metal Contamination of Well Water in the Kipushi Mining Town (Democratic Republic of Congo)

“…Short-term Ni overexposure does not cause any health problem but long-term exposure may cause body weight loss, heart and liver damages, and skin irritation [14]. Ingestion of high Ni quantities may also cause cancer, respiratory arrest, abortions, allergies and cardiac arrest [45]. The phagocytosis of Ni compound particles and their dissolution in the nucleus induces an oxidative stress with genetic mutation [46].…”