A Comparison of Levels of Select Minerals in Scalp Hair Samples with Estimated Dietary Intakes of These Minerals in Women of Reproductive Age

The objective of this study was to evaluate daily intake of minerals and concentrations of minerals in hair in women of reproductive age. The study included 77 menstruating women, aged 35.9 ± 9.7 years. Subjects were divided into three groups according to age. All women were healthy. Hair samples were taken from several points of the occipital scalp. The content of minerals in hair samples was determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Dietary intake of the analysed minerals was assayed on the basis of dietary intake interviews from three preceding days and evaluated using the dietetic computer programme. It was shown that calcium and iron daily intake by the women was below the recommended value. Only few women had low concentrations (below reference values) of magnesium, copper and zinc in hair. Statistically significant differences were shown between age groups. Generally, the concentrations of minerals in hair in the younger (19–30 years) and the older women (41–50 years) were higher than in hair of middle-aged women (31–40 years). The content of calcium, magnesium, iron and zinc in daily diets of women correlated inversely with copper level in their hair. Food products with good bioavailability of iron and calcium should be recommended for women of childbearing age in all age groups

Effect of Mycophenolate Mofetil on Plasma Bioelements in Renal Transplant Recipients

The proper concentrations of plasma bioelements may favorably reduce the incidence of metabolic disorders, which often occur during immunosuppressive therapy. Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is currently one of the most frequently administered immunosuppressive agents; however, MMF treatment is often related to gastrointestinal side effects. The aim of this study was thus to verify whether the MMF treatment itself, or its metabolite pharmacokinetics, has an effect on the concentrations of plasma bioelements. To determine this, the effect of MMF on the levels of both major (sodium [Na], potassium [K], calcium [Ca], magnesium [Mg]), and trace (iron [Fe], zinc [Zn], copper [Cu]) plasma bioelements in 61 renal transplant recipients was assessed in comparison to a control group (n = 45). The pharmacokinetic parameters of mycophenolic acid were determined by the high-performance liquid chromatography method. All patients filled out a 24-h diet history questionnaire. The results showed high plasma concentrations of Fe and low plasma concentrations of Mg and Zn as compared with diagnostic norms. The patients treated with MMF had significantly lower plasma Na (P < 0.001) and significantly higher plasma Zn (P = 0.030) and Cu concentrations (P < 0.001). In conclusion, MMF treatment was found to affect plasma Fe, Zn, and Cu levels by increasing their concentrations while decreasing the plasma Na concentration. Mg and Zn deficiencies, as well as excessive Fe levels, are frequently observed irrespective of the immunosuppressive regimen applied, which suggests that monitoring of these bioelements may be favorable

Evaluation of iron, zinc and copper contents in selected spices available on the Polish market

Celem pracy było określenie zawartości żelaza, cynku i miedzi w wybranych przyprawach (papryce, natce pietruszki, koperku, tymianku, oregano, bazylii, majeranku, rozmarynie, jałowcu) pochodzących z trzech firm. Zawartość składników mineralnych oznaczono metodą płomieniową AAS. Analizę statystyczną wykonano przy użyciu testu ANOVA dla układu jednoczynnikowego, w programie STATISTICA 6.0. Wysoką zawartość składników mineralnych stwierdzono w bazylii. Jałowiec zawierał względnie niskie ilości tych pierwiastków. Wykazano znaczące różnice w zawartości żelaza, cynku i miedzi w przyprawach pochodzących od różnych firm.The aim of the study was to evaluate the content of iron, zinc and copper in selected spices (pepper, parsley, dill, thyme, oregano, basil, marjoram, rosemary, juniper) from three companies. The contents of minerals were determined by flame AAS. Statistical analysis was carried out employing the STATISTICA software and using the ANOVA test. The high content of minerals was found in basil. Juniper contains relatively low quantities of these elements. It was shown a significant differences in iron, zinc and copper content in spices come from different companies

Wpływ wybranych leków hipotensyjnych na biodostępność składników mineralnych z grochu łuskanego w procesie trawienia enzymatycznego in vitro

Interaction of antihypertensive drugs with minerals can occur during digestion in the digestive tract of patients. The aim of this study was to estimate the influence of hypotensive drugs on the bioavailability of magnesium, iron, zinc and copper from shelled pea during in vitro enzymatic digestion. The degree of release of magnesium, iron, zinc and copper from shelled pea was determined with and without (the control) addition of hypotensive drugs. Four antihypertensive drugs in standard doses (one tablet per sample) were analysed: Metocard (β-blocker), Cardilopin (Ca-antagonist), Apo-perindox (angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor ACE-I) and Indapen (diuretic). The samples were subjected to enzymatic digestion under in vitro conditions. The content of minerals in shelled pea before and after enzymatic digestion was determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). It was found that Indapen (indapamide) significantly decreased the release of magnesium, iron and zinc from shelled pea. The degree of release of magnesium was lower in samples with Metocard (metoprolol) than in the control. The release of copper was significantly reduced by Cardilopin (amlodipine). Indapamide, metoprolol and amlodypine decreased the release of minerals from pea in vitro enzymatic digestion of shelled pea