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Calculation of biological variation (BV) components is very important in evaluating whether a test result is clinically significant. The aim of this study is to analyze BV components for copper, zinc and selenium in a cohort of healthy Turkish participants. A total of 10 serum samples were collected from each of the 15 healthy individuals (nine female, six male), once a week, during 10 weeks. Copper, zinc and selenium levels were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometer. BV parameters were calculated with the approach suggested by Fraser. Analytical variation (CVA), within-subject BV (CVI), between-subject BV (CVG) values were 8.4, 7.1 and 4.3 for copper; 4.2, 9.1 and 13.7 for zinc; 7.6, 2.5 and 6.9 for selenium, respectively. Reference change values (RCV) were 30.46, 27.56 and 22.16% for copper, zinc and selenium, respectively. The index of individuality (II) values were 1.65, 0.66 and 0.36 for copper, zinc and selenium, respectively. According to the results of this study, traditional reference intervals can be used for copper but we do not recommend using it for zinc and selenium. We think that it would be more accurate to use RCV value for zinc and selenium in terms of following significant changes in recurrent results of a patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Zinc is known as an essential trace element and has antioxidant functions. This study was planned to investigate the effects of zinc on oxidative stress induced by ethanol in the rat liver tissue. Methods: Thirty-nine male rats were divided into four groups as control, ethanol (EtOH), zinc (Zn), ethanol plus zinc (EtOH+Zn). The control group (n=10) were injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) with 0.9% saline, EtOH group (n=10) with 2g kg/day ethanol, Zn group (n=10) received orally, ZnSO4.7H2 O at a dose of 7 mg kg/day and EtOH+Zn group (n=9) received zinc (orally) and ethanol (i.p.). On the 13th day, rats were euthanized. Liver tissues were removed and malondialdehyde (MDA), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activities were measured. Tissue zinc levels were determined. Histological analyses of liver tissue specimens were also performed. Results: In EtOH group MDA levels, GPx, SOD activities increased compared with control group. In accordance with histological findings, ethanol induced oxidative stress. But AOPP levels decreased in EtOH group due to supressive effect of ethanol on neutrophil activation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. In EtOH+Zn group, MDA, AOPP levels and GPx, SOD activities significantly changed. Besides, histological findings showed that zinc supplementation reduced oxidative stress. But in healthy rats MDA levels increased due to ROS mediated zinc damage. Conclusion: Zinc supplementation was found to offer protection against ethanol-induced liver damage and oxidative stress in rats. However, zinc might increase oxidative stress in healthy rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]