Copper and zinc concentrations in atherosclerotic plaque and serum in relation to lipid metabolism in patients with carotid atherosclerosis.
2014
Background/Aim. Some oligoelements are now investigated as possibly having a
role in atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to compare the
concentrations of copper and zinc in the serum and carotid plaque and
parameters of lipid metabolism in patients with different morphology of
carotid atherosclerotic plaque. Methods. Carotid endarterectomy due to the
significant atherosclerotic stenosis was performed in 91 patients (mean age
64 ± 7). The control group consisted of 27 patients (mean age 58 ± 9),
without carotid atherosclerosis. Atheroscletoric plaques were divided into
four morphological groups, according to ultrasonic and intraoperative
characteristics. Copper and zinc concentrations in the plaque, carotid artery
and serum were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Results.
Serum copper concentrations were statistically significantly higher in the
patients with hemorrhagic in comparison to those with calcified plaque (1.2 ±
0.9 μmol/L vs 0.7 ± 0.2 μmol/L, respectively; p = 0.021). Zinc concentrations
were statistically significantly lower in plaques of the patients with
fibrolipid in comparison to those with calcified plaques (22.1 ± 16.3 μg/g vs
38.4 ± 25.8 μg/g, respectively; p = 0.024). A negative significant
correlation was found for zinc and triglycerides in the serum in all the
patients (r = -0.52, p = 0.025). In the control group we also demonstrated a
positive significant correlation for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and
copper in the serum (r = 0.54, p = 0.04). Conclusion. The data obtained in
the current study are consistent with the hypothesis that high copper and
lower zinc levels may contribute to atherosclerosis and its sequelae as
factors in a multifactorial disease. Further studies are necessary in order
to conclude whether high concentration of copper and zinc in the serum could
be risk factors for atherosclesrosis.
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