Evaluation of Zinc and Copper Serum Concentration in Non-Diabetic Proteinuria Patients and Normal Population

Background and Proteinurea is the commonest symptom of chronic kidney disease. The most risk factors for proteinurea are diabetes and hypertension. Other researchers showed that serum level of some metals might change in proteinurea. In this study we checked the changes of zinc and copper serum concentration in non-diabetic proteinuric patients. This case-control study was performed during 2010-2011 to compare the zinc, copper, iron and selenium serum level in two groups, including 46 cases of healthy control group and 46 cases of non-diabetic patients with proteinurea which were matched for age and sex. The levels of metals (Zn-Cu) were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The data was analyzed with SPSS software using independent-sample t-test and Pearson correlation coefficient. The number of female cases was 26 and male cases were 20 in each group. The mean serum level of Cu in healthy women was 1.167±0.46 and in patient women was 1.232±0.58. These mean numbers were 1.142±0.43 and 0.962±0.46 for healthy and patient men, respectively. The mean serum levels of Zn in healthy and patient women were 1.201±0.38 and 0.918±0.43, respectively. These mean numbers were 1.163±0.35 for healthy men and 0.828±0.503 for patient men. Significant decrease was observed in serum Zn and Cu level in patient group compared with healthy group (p˂0.05). This study revealed that the cause of reduction in zinc and copper plasma concentration in proteinurea could be the excretion of protein and albumin from urine. Therefore, edema, disturbance in oxidative process, and renal disorders might occur.