Trace elements in drug addicts

Martínez, M. Ruiz; Extremera, Blas Gil; Martin, Allison; Cantero-Hinojosa, J.; Moreno-Abadía, V.

doi:10.1007/bf01648242

Cited by 21 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Low zinc serum concentrations were reported in heroin consumers upon admission for treatment, with a slight tendency to increase during detoxification, yet not reaching the levels in controls [ 44 ]. In patients diagnosed with heroin addiction, zinc deficit appears to be correlated with the abuse period in case of heroin addiction [ 45 ] and low zinc plasma is accompanied by low intraerythrocytic zinc and by increased plasma and intraerythrocytic copper [ 46 ]. In case drug-free patients with heroin-addiction documented in the past, zinc concentration in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of is lower than in controls, but generally within normal limits [ 47 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Zinc involvement in opioid addiction and analgesia – should zinc supplementation be recommended for opioid-treated persons?

Ciubotariu

Ghiciuc

Lupușoru

2015

Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy

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IntroductionZinc chelators were shown to facilitate some opioid-withdrawal signs in animals. Zinc deficiency, which affects more than 15 % the world’s population, is also common among opioid consumers and opioid-treated animals exhibit misbalances of zinc distribution.AimThe present study focuses on how zinc ions interfere with opioid dependence/addiction and analgesia, trying to preliminary discuss if zinc supplementation in opioid-users should be recommended in order to reduce the risk of addiction.MethodsAll relevant literature was searched up to April 2015. The search was performed using the term “zinc” plus combinations of following terms: “opioid receptors”, “opioid” or representatives of this class, “addiction”, “dependence”, “analgesia”, and “pain”. Human, animal, in vitro studies and reviews were including.ResultsBoth human and animal studies revealed decreased serum zinc under opioid-administration conditions, attributed mainly to increased urinary elimination (humans) or redistribution (animals). Moreover, animal studies revealed decreased brain zinc levels in morphine-treated animals, with increased zinc hepatic levels, but also an enhancement of endogenous opioid system activity and a possible reduction of morphine withdrawal by zinc. In vitro studies revealed reduction of opioid ligands binding to receptors by zinc. However, the very few in vivo animal studies on opioid analgesia revealed controversial results, as zinc demonstrated clear analgesic effect, but zinc associated to opioids doesn’t result in a potentiation of the analgesic effect.ConclusionZinc dietary supplementation in patients treated with opioids for cancer-related chronic pain should be considered, due to the high incidence of zinc deficiency, also well-documented in opioid consumers. The low toxicity of orally-administered zinc also pleads for this idea. The main contra-argument to zinc administration in opioid-treated persons is related to the way zinc influences opioid-induced analgesia.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Zinc involvement in opioid addiction and analgesia – should zinc supplementation be recommended for opioid-treated persons?

Ciubotariu

Ghiciuc

Lupușoru

2015

Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy

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“…They reported that the concentrations of Fe, Ca, P, S, Cl, K, Mn, and Zn from the blood samples of heroin addicts is lower, while Cu and Br content was higher with respect to the control group. Martinez et al [2] reported this drop in Fe and Zn concentration, and according to their studies there was no significant difference in magnesium levels between the drug addicts and healthy subjects. They studied trace elements by atomic absorption spectrophotometry in the plasma and erythrocytes of 120 subjects: 20 healthy control subjects and 100 drug addicts (69 heroin and 31 heroin other drugs).…”

Section: A Nail Spectrummentioning

confidence: 92%

“…Traditional samples such as urine, blood [1,2], and more recently saliva and sweat are of basic significance in toxicological analysis for different purposes at times when only recent exposure to drugs is investigated [3]. The changes in molecular compositions and compounds in these samples, due to drug abuse, are temporary and can be masked by with special beverages that reduce the accuracy of these tests.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison between elemental composition of human fingernails of healthy and opium-addicted subjects by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

2012

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The objective of the present work is to identify differences in elemental fingernail composition between opium-addicted and healthy adult human subjects using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy. Thirty nails from normal, healthy male subjects and 30 nails from opium-addicted male individuals were analyzed. Measurements on 60 nail samples were carried out, identifying 13 key species including 11 neutral elements and 2 ions. Discriminant Function Analysis (DFA) was used to classify the samples between the two groups. Spectral line intensities of elements including Fe, C, Ti, Mg, Si, Al, Ca, H, K, O, and Na were considered variables in DFA. This analysis demonstrates the efficient discrimination between the two groups. However, the number of samples in this work is not sufficient for a decisive conclusion and further research is needed to generalize this idea.

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“…These studies have tested the hypothesis that illicit drug use and lifestyle impair serum trace element status. In an earlier study, it was reported that plasma Zn and Fe were decreased, whereas plasma Cu was significantly increased in drug addicts compared to the healthy controls [17].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Investigation of Serum Trace Element, Malondialdehyde and Immune Status in Drug Abuser Patients Undergoing Detoxification

Mannan

Azad

Ullah

et al. 2010

Biol Trace Elem Res

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Drug abuser patients (n=104), age ranging from 19 to 42 years, were randomly recruited to investigate the serum levels of trace elements (Cu, Zn, Fe, and Mg), malondialdehyde (MDA), and immunoglobulin (IgG, IgA, and IgM) before and after clinical intervention. Control group also included 104 healthy individuals. Blood samples were analyzed for determining trace elements, MDA, and immunoglobulin using atomic absorption spectroscopy, Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-VIS) spectroscopy, and turbidimetry method, respectively. For serum level of Zn and Fe, the differences between the groups (before intervention, after intervention, and control) were not significant (p>0.05). However, significant differences were found in serum copper levels between control group, drug abuser patients, and before and after intervention (p<0.05). The concentration of Mg was found to be significantly higher (p=0.007) in drug abuser patients than the controls, and after intervention, the level was restored to control value. A displacement of elemental homeostasis was observed in drug abuser patients compared to control, and it was improved after intervention. An increase in serum concentration of MDA was found in drug abuser patients compared to control subjects (p>0.05) but was not statistically significant. After intervention, the concentration was restored to control value (p>0.05). The serum concentrations of IgA and IgM were found to be significantly higher (p<0.05) in drug abuser patients before intervention than the controls, and the level tended to be restored to control level after clinical intervention. Serum IgG level was found to be lower in drug abuser patients compared to controls and further declined significantly (p<0.05) after intervention. These findings may suggest a possible imbalance in the levels of micronutrients, antioxidants, and immunoglobulin in drug abuser patients, which tend to be restored to control values after detoxification.

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Trace elements in drug addicts

Cited by 21 publications

References 16 publications

Zinc involvement in opioid addiction and analgesia – should zinc supplementation be recommended for opioid-treated persons?

Zinc involvement in opioid addiction and analgesia – should zinc supplementation be recommended for opioid-treated persons?

Comparison between elemental composition of human fingernails of healthy and opium-addicted subjects by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

Investigation of Serum Trace Element, Malondialdehyde and Immune Status in Drug Abuser Patients Undergoing Detoxification

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