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The aim of the study has been to assay iron, copper and zinc dietary intake, as well as their serum and hair content in subjects with primary hypertension. The study population (age range 30-60 years) comprised 162 subjects of whom 91 were diagnosed with primary hypertension and 71 were healthy adults. The intake of analysed microelements was assayed based on a 3-day dietary interview. All subjects had their blood and hair samples collected for analysis. Content of the analysed microelements was assayed with atomic spectrophotometry using Zeiss AAS-3 spectrophotometer. The results showed significantly higher intake of iron in hypertensive subjects compared to healthy ones and significantly higher intake of iron and zinc among men as compared to women. Hypertensive subjects had significantly lower serum zinc level and higher copper level compared to healthy participants. The great majority of study subjects had serum levels of the microelements in the normal range. Analysis of the hair levels of the microelements did not show any inter-group differences. The study results seem to indicate that insufficient intake of iron, copper and zinc by hypertensive subjects may adversely affect metabolism of these microelements and may also have an indirect and adverse effect on blood pressure regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Content of selected minerals in lupine seeds was determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry method. Lupine seeds contained relatively high concentrations of minerals depending on the lupine variety: 227 and 271 mg of Ca, 155 and 174 mg of Mg, 5.4 and 4.9 mg of Zn, about 0.5 mg of Cu and 3.8 and 4.8 mg of Fe in 100 g d.w. of Boros (Lupinus albus) and Baron (Lupinus angustifolius) variety, respectively. The samples were next subjected to enzymatic digestion under in vitro conditions. The variety Baron released significantly higher quantities of the minerals than the variety Boros (respectively: Ca - 31.7% vs. 23%, Mg - 42.7% vs. 32.9%, zn -- 42.1% vs. 31.6%, Cu - 53.1% vs. 42.6%). There was no difference in Fe release (19.1% vs. 25.5%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of a garlic preparation on serum iron, zinc and copper level in hypertensive subjects. The study population comprised 57 subjects aged 30-60 years (M/F = 27/30), who took the garlic preparation for 4 weeks, 6 capsules daily. The participants had their blood collected for analysis twice, i.e. before and after the treatment with the garlic preparation. The serum levels of iron, zinc and copper were assayed with atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Garlic preparation reduced serum iron and copper level both in males and in females, but increased serum zinc level in males while decreasing it in females. The ratio of males with zinc deficiency (40%) decreased significantly (to 23%) after the treatment with the garlic preparation, though such changes could not be observed in women. These changes may indicate that some metabolic reactions in which zinc is a cofactor differ between hypertensive men and women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]