Blood concentrations of Cu, Zn and the ratio of (Cu/Zn) in Blackfoot disease among residents of hyperendemic villages in Taiwan

作者：Wang C T^*; Huang K C; Chang W T

来源：Trace Elements and Electrolytes, 2007, 24(3): 187-192.

• atomic absorption
• spectrophotometer
• blood
• Blackfoot
• disease
• copper
• zinc

Blackfoot disease (BFD) is a chronic peripheral vascular disorder disease affecting the arteries of the lower limbs. It is endemic in certain parts of southwestern Taiwan and has been linked to arsenic contamination of artesian well water. This study was designed to compare the blood concentrations of copper, zinc and (Cu/Zn) in residents of BFD hyperendemic villages including BFD patients (n = 123), non-BFD (n = 39) residents of hyperendemic villages and non-endemic villages healthy controls (n = 49) by using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Higher blood concentration of copper and higher ratio of (Cu/Zn), but lower concentration of zinc were found in BFD residents of hyperendemic villages. Conversely, lower blood concentration of copper and lower ratio of (Cu/Zn), but higher blood concentration of zinc were found in non-BFD residents of hyperendemic villages and in nonendemic villages healthy controls. On the basis of this evidence, a higher ratio of (Cu/Zn), higher concentration of copper and lower concentration of zinc in blood seems to be closely related to BFD. Therefore, this finding could be used for prescreening of highest risk BFD populations in BFD hyperendemic villages and also act as a secondary prevention of BFD.

• 出版日期2007