Trace Elements Alterations in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients with Chronic Renal Failure and Proteinuria

The levels of serum copper (Cus), zinc (Zns), magnesium (Mgs); erythrocyte Zn (Zne) and Mg (Mge) levels were studied in 24 patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD), 85 patients with chronic renal failure (CRF), 71 proteinuric patients and 32 healthy subjects. Zns and Zne levels were significantly lower in the HD patients (p<0.02, p<0.02) and patients with CRF (p<0.02) compared to the control group. Post-HD Mgs levels were higher than pre-HD Mgs levels (p<0.02). But Mgs levels were not different in hemodialysis patients compared to controls. Zns levels were found low in all of the proteinuric patients according to control group (p<0.05). According to these results the zinc deficiency in uremic patients may be related to reduced dietary zinc intake more than due to hemodialysis. The levels of Zns and Mgs were lower in proteinuric patients. The low level of serum zinc may be a result of increased urinary loss and/or decreased intestinal absorption of zinc.