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We measured serum concentrations of trace elements and evaluated their clinical significance in relation to treatment outcomes of critically ill patients. A total of 167 participants (105 men and 62 women; average age, 61.4 years; age range, 18–90 years) were enrolled. Arterial blood concentrations of the trace elements zinc, copper, selenium, and manganese were measured every 14 days. At the time of intensive care unit (ICU) admission, serum concentrations of zinc, selenium, copper, and manganese were lower than the normal values in 75.1, 1.8, 37.8, and 2.1% of patients, respectively. Serum trace element concentrations measured on day 14 of ICU stay were higher than those measured at the time of ICU admission for zinc (53.3 → 80.7 μg/L) and copper (87.1 → 102.3 μg/L). Increased serum zinc and copper concentrations during ICU care were associated with a significantly lower mortality compared to decreased concentrations of zinc (15.6 vs. 83.3%, p = 0.003) and copper (5.6 vs. 50.0%, p = 0.013). At the time of ICU admission, low serum levels of zinc and copper were observed. Patients with increased serum concentrations of zinc and copper had significantly lower mortality.

Diabetes is a common metabolic disorder characterized by elevated blood glucose level. Trace element homeostasis causes disturbances in diabetes due to hyperglycemia. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), an antioxidant enzyme, contains zinc and copper ions as its cofactors. Defects in SOD level and activity have been observed in diabetes. Resveratrol (RSV) has displayed hypoglycemic effects and is proven to improve oxidative stress. The aim of the present study was to examine the possible effects of RSV on blood glucose level, serum copper and zinc levels, SOD, and a number of other oxidative markers in type 2 diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced in male Wistar rats with administration of streptozotocin and nicotine amide. The studied groups containing six animals per group were as follows: group 1 normal control group; group 2 diabetic control group; groups 3, 4, and 5 diabetic rats that received 1, 5, and 10 mg/kg body weight of RSV, respectively for 30 days. Serum glucose, copper, zinc, SOD activity, total oxidant status (TOS) as well as thiol groups were all measured. Blood glucose in RSV treated groups significantly decreased. Similarly, copper significantly decreased in diabetic groups treated with RSV. Treatment with 10 mg/kg RSV resulted in significantly increased serum zinc. Furthermore, Cu/Zn ratio was observed to decrease in treated groups compared with untreated diabetic control group. RSV treated groups revealed an increased level of SOD activity as well as improved oxidative status. In summary, the results showed that RSV has potential hypoglycemic effect, attenuates trace element homeostasis, and consequently increases SOD activity level.

Obesity is a chronic inflammatory state characterized by altered adipokine production and increased levels of inflammatory cytokines. The study explored the effect of zinc supplementation on inflammatory markers and adipocyte hormones in young obese women. Twenty five non-obese women and forty obese women (body mass index ≥25 kg/m2) aged 19–28 years were recruited for this study. Twenty obese women of the study group took 30 mg/day of supplemental zinc as zinc gluconate for 8 weeks and 20 obese women of control group took placebo. Usual dietary zinc intake was estimated from 3-day diet records. Serum zinc and urinary zinc concentration were measured by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. Inflammatory markers such as high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin (IL)-6 and adipocyte hormones such as lepin and adiponectin were measured by enzyme immunoassay. Inflammatory markers and leptin were significantly higher, but adiponectin was significantly lower in obese women than non-obese women. Zinc supplementation increased serum zinc by 15 % and urinary zinc by 56 % (P