ABSTRACT

Calcium, magnesium, copper and zinc were determined in serum in men with femoral atherosclerosis. Also total cholesterol, HDL- and LDL-cholesterol were estimated. Subjects in control group were in the same range of age. The present study compares two methods of preparing serum for the flame atomic absorption spectrometry. In the first method (I), serum was diluted by the demineralized water. In the second method (II), serum protein was precipitated by trichloracetic acid (TCA). We found that the first method (I) was simpler and more precise than the other. The optimal proportions of serum and water amounted to 1+62 for calcium and magnesium and the coefficient of variation (C.V.) was 2.8%. For copper and zinc, the optimal dilution was 1+3 (C.V. = 1%). Total cholesterol was significantly higher (p<0.05) and HDL-cholesterol was lower (p<0.05) in subjects with femoral atherosclerosis as compared with controls. There was no difference in LDL- -cholesterol. Subjects with femoral atherosclerosis had significantly higher level of all micro- and macroelements determined, then those of the control group (p<0.05). However, higher serum copper does not necessary mean higher copper body status. It is possible that higher serum copper in femoral atherosclerosis reflects the transfer of copper from the tissue to the ceruloplasmin, as an acute phase reaction. On the other hand, the differences in serum magnesium, calcium, copper and zinc concentrations, may indicate the possible involvement of these elements in the disorder of total and HDL-cholesterol in femoral atherosclerosis.