Minerals in the News
From Albion Advanced Nutrition
Vol. 6, Issue 11

Copper, Chromium, Manganese, Iron, Nickel, and Zinc Levels in Biological Samples of
Diabetes Mellitus Patients
Kazi TG, et al.
Biol Trace Elem Res (2008) 122:1-18.

There is accumulating evidence that the metabolism of several trace elements is altered in diabetes mellitus and
that these nutrients might have specific roles in the pathogenesis and progress of this disease. The aim of present
study was to compare the level of essential trace elements, chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese
(Mn), nickel (Ni), and zinc (Zn) in biological samples (whole blood, urine, and scalp hair) of patients who have
diabetes mellitus type 2 (n=257), with those of nondiabetic control subjects (n =166), age ranged (45-75) of both
genders. The element concentrations were measured by means of an atomic absorption spectrophotometer after
microwave-induced acid digestion. The validity and accuracy was checked by conventional wet-acid-digestion
method and using certified reference materials. The overall recoveries of all elements were found in the range of
(97.60-99.49%) of certified values. The results of this study showed that the mean values of Zn, Mn, and Cr were
significantly reduced in blood and scalp-hair samples of diabetic patients as compared to control subjects of both
genders (p <0.001). The urinary levels of these elements were found to be higher in the diabetic patients than in
the age-matched healthy controls. In contrast, high mean values of Cu and Fe were detected in scalp hair and
blood from patients versus the nondiabetic subjects, but the differences found in blood samples was not significant
(p<0.05). These results are consistent with those obtained in other studies, confirming that deficiency and
efficiency of some essential trace metals may play a role in the development of diabetes mellitus.



Intravenous Magnesium Sulfate With and Without EDTA as a Magnesium Load Test –
Is Magnesium Deficiency Widespread?
Waters RS, et al.
Biol Trace Elem Res (2008) 124:243-250.

Serum/plasma measurements do not reflect magnesium deficits in clinical situations, and magnesium load tests are
used as a more accurate method to identify magnesium deficiency in a variety of disease states as well as in
subclinical conditions. The objective of this study was to determine if people are indeed magnesium deficient or if
the apparent magnesium deficiency is due to the composition of the infusate used in the load test. Magnesium load
tests were performed on seven patients using three different Mg solution infusions - a Mg-EDTA (ethylene
diamine tetraacetic acid)-nutrient cocktail used in EDTA chelation therapy containing several components
including vitamins and minerals, and the same cocktail without EDTA and an infusion of an identical amount of
magnesium in normal saline solution. There was no significant difference in the amount of magnesium retained in
the 24 h after infusion among the three infusates. All infusates resulted in very high magnesium retention
compared to previous published magnesium load studies. Magnesium deficiency may be widespread, and the
relationship of Mg deficiency to related diseases requires further study.


Renal Protection With Magnesium Subcarbonate and Magnesium Sulphate in Patients
With Epithelial Ovarian Cancer After Cisplatin and Paclitaxel Chemotherapy: A
Randomized Phase II Study
Bodnar L, et al.
Eur J Cancer, 2008 Sep 14.

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of magnesium supplementation on nephrotoxicity accompanying
standard cisplatin-based chemotherapy in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). A double-blind, placebocontrolled,
randomized study was conducted in which study arm magnesium sulphate (5g) was administered
before each course of standard chemotherapy with paclitaxel (135mg/m(2)/24h) plus cisplatin (75mg/m(2))
every 3 weeks in patients with EOC. Magnesium subcarbonate (500mg), three times per day orally, was
administered during the treatment intervals. The control arm was administered a placebo instead of both
magnesium salts. Magnesium serum levels (sMg) and GFR markers: serum levels of creatinine (sCr), Cockroft-
Gault (CICG) and Modification Diet of Renal Disease (MDRD) formulae were recorded before each cycle, and 3
weeks after the sixth course. 41 EOC patients were randomized and 40 were eligible. sMg varied significantly
between the supplemented and placebo groups (p<0.0001). The control group showed a significantly greater
decrease of GFR assessed by: sCr (p=0.0069), CICG (p =0.0077) and MDRD (p =0.032) formulae compared
with the magnesium supplemented group. These results demonstrate the nephroprotective effect of magnesium
supplementation during chemotherapy with cisplatin.



Zinc or Magnesium Supplementation Modulates Cd Intoxication in Blood, Kidney,
Spleen, and Bone of Rabbits
Bulat ZP, et al.
Biol Trace Elem Res (2008) 124:110-117.

The objective of this study was to examine the influence of oral supplementation with Zn or Mg on Cd content in
the blood and organs of rabbits exposed to prolonged Cd intoxication. Rabbits were divided into the following
groups: Cd group-received orally every day for 4 weeks 10 mg Cd/kg body weight (b.w.), Cd+Zn group and
Cd+Mg group - exposed to Cd and supplemented with 20 mg Zn/kg b.w. or 40 mg Mg/kg b.w. one hour after
Cd treatment. Cd content in biological material was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Blood
Cd concentration was determined in all investigated groups at time 0 and after 10, 14, 18, 22, 25, and 28 days,
whereas Cd content in the brain, heart, lungs, liver, kidney, spleen, pancreas, skeletal muscle, and bone was
determined after 28 days. Blood Cd concentration was significantly increased in all groups from the 14th day of
Cd intoxication and lasted until the end of the experiment. Zn or Mg supplementation significantly reduced blood
Cd content on the 18th and 25th days. Supplementation with Zn or Mg significantly decreased Cd concentration
in the kidney, spleen, and bone and, in addition, Zn reduced Cd content in the brain. Supplementation with Zn or
Mg in Cd intoxicated rabbits caused similar reduction of blood Cd concentration; however, reduction of tissue Cd
content was more pronounced in Zn- than in Mg-supplemented group.



Liver As a Key Organ in the Supply, Storage, and Excretion of Copper
Roberts EA, et al.
Am J Clin Nutr 2008;88(suppl):851S-4S.
The liver plays an important role in the disposition of copper. Most dietary copper passes through the liver where
it can be used for protein and energy production or excreted through the biliary route. Because copper is a
prooxidant, its intracellular handling is tightly managed. In Wilson disease, in which synthesis of ceruloplasmin
and biliary excretion of copper are defective, copper accumulates in the liver and leads to progressive liver
damage. The features of hepatic Wilson disease are highly variable. The spectrum of liver disease includes mild
inflammation, fatty liver, an autoimmune disorder, and cirrhosis. Wilson disease thus resembles drug hepatotoxicity,
and indeed it can be regarded as a prototypic example of endogenous hepatotoxicity. Biomarkers developed
for detecting drug hepatotoxicity may be relevant to Wilson disease. Biomarkers developed through
metalloproteomics, which for copper seeks to define a set of proteins that have copper-binding capacity, or
through genomic studies may also be relevant to Wilson disease and other disorders of copper handling, whether
copper is deficient or overloaded.