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Selenium, Zinc, and Copper Plasma Levels in Patients with Schizophrenia: Relationship with Metabolic Risk Factors

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the plasma selenium (Se), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) levels and to evaluate their possible association with metabolic syndrome (MetS) components in patients with schizophrenia. The study group consisted of 60 patients with schizophrenia and 60 sex- and age-matched healthy controls. Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, and biochemical analysis of fasting blood were performed in all subjects. Patients with schizophrenia had significantly higher plasma Cu concentrations compared with controls (0.97 ± 0.31 vs. 0.77 ± 0.32 mg/L, p = 0.001). The plasma Cu concentration showed a positive correlation with plasma glucose and diastolic blood pressure in the patient groups (r s  = 0.263, p < 0.05 and r s  = 0.272, p < 0.05, respectively). The plasma Se level correlated positive with MetS score (r s  = 0.385, p < 0.01), waist circumference (r s  = 0.344, p < 0.05), plasma glucose (r s  = 0.319, p < 0.05), and triglyceride concentrations (r s  = 0.462, p < 0.001) in patients with schizophrenia. Plasma Zn did not correlate with any of the MetS components. These results suggest that alterations in plasma Cu and Se levels in medicated patients with schizophrenia could be associated with metabolic risk factors.

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Acknowledgments

We appreciate the financial support from the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Republic of Serbia (project number III46001). The authors would like to thank Dr. Steve Quarrie for his help in editing the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Bromatology, University of Belgrade, Vojvode Stepe 450, 11221, Belgrade, Serbia

    Bojana Vidović & Brižita Đorđević

  2. Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Dr Subotića 8, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia

    Srđan Milovanović

  3. Clinic for Psychiatry, Clinical Centar of Serbia, Pasterova 2, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia

    Srđan Milovanović

  4. Faculty of Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 12-16, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia

    Sandra Škrivanj

  5. Institute for Public Health Požarevac, Jovana Šerbanovića 14, 12000, Požarevac, Serbia

    Zoran Pavlović

  6. Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Medical Biochemistry, University of Belgrade, Vojvode Stepe 450, 11221, Belgrade, Serbia

    Aleksandra Stefanović & Jelena Kotur-Stevuljević

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  1. Bojana Vidović
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  2. Brižita Đorđević
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  3. Srđan Milovanović
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Correspondence to Bojana Vidović.

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Vidović, B., Đorđević, B., Milovanović, S. et al. Selenium, Zinc, and Copper Plasma Levels in Patients with Schizophrenia: Relationship with Metabolic Risk Factors. Biol Trace Elem Res 156, 22–28 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-013-9842-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-013-9842-1

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