Volume 27, No. 1/2010(1st Quarter)
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 Trace Elements and Electrolytes
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Original
Interactions between drugs and micronutrients
U. Gröber
Abstract
U. Gröber
Akademie für Mikronährstoffmedizin, Essen, Germany
Interactions between drugs and micronutrients have received only little or no attention in the medical and pharmaceutical world in the past. Since more and more pharmaceutics are used for the treatment of patients, this topic is increasingly relevant. As such interactions – depending on the duration of treatment and the status of micronutrients – impact the health of the patient and the action of the drugs, physicians and pharmacists should pay more attention to such interactions in the future. In this context, the pharmacist, as a drug expert, assumes a particular role. Like no other professional in the health care sector, he is particularly predestined and called up to respond to this task. The following article intends to point out the relevance of mutual interactions between micronutrients and drugs, without claiming to be exhaustive.Correspondence to:
U. Gröber
Akademie für Mikronährstoffmedizin
Zweigertstr. 55
45130 Essen, Germany
Email: uwegroeber@gmx.net
Original
Increased exposure to aluminum: still a problem for chronic renal failure patients in East China?
X.-H. Hou, L.V. Lamberts, G.-J. Guan and P.C. D’Haese
Abstract
X.-H. Hou1,2, L.V. Lamberts1, G.-J. Guan2 and P.C. D’Haese1
1Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Faculties of Medicine and Biomedical and Pharmaceutical and Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium, and 2Department of Nephrology, The Second Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, P. R. China
Objective: To evaluate serum aluminum (Al) levels in chronic renal failure (CRF) patients undergoing either conservative or hemodialysis treatment in East China, and check possible relationships with the patients’ age, sex, dialysis modalities, use of phosphate binders, Epo, VitD, blood transfusion, diet and other trace elements in serum. Patients and methods: The Al concentration was measured in serum samples from 81 CRF patients not yet in dialysis (CRF-NH patients) coming from 5 hospitals of 5 cities, and 319 hemodialysis patients (CRF-H patients) recruited from 8 hospitals of 6 cities in East China. We also measured the Al content in local tap water and dialysate samples from each dialysis center. Serum Al levels in Chinese patients were also compared with those of CRF-H patients from other countries/continents that were available in the lab from previous and ongoing monitoring programs. Al was measured by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. In addition serum samples were also taken from 62 subjects with normal renal function (NRF) which served as controls. Meticulous care was taken to avoid contamination during sampling, storage, shipment and sample analysis. Results: The serum Al content of the CRF patients ranged from 2 µg/l up to 443 µg/l (29.56 ± 44.78 µg/l) and was significantly higher than that of NRF controls (1.77 ± 1.97 µg/l; p < 0.001). Within the CRF group, the serum Al levels of CRF-H patients were significantly higher than those of CRF-NH patients (p < 0.001). Compared with CRF-H patients from European centers in Belgium and Portugal (5.12 ± 6.27 µg/l), serum Al levels of CRF-H patients from East China are significantly higher (p < 0.001) and highly comparable to the overall mean levels of patients from centers in Africa (25.24 ± 29.07 µg/l). Significant differences in serum Al levels were noted between different Chinese dialysis centers under study. These differences could not be explained by the Al content in dialysis fluid (< 2 µg/l) or local tap water. Serum Al levels of CRF-H patients are significantly correlated with age (r = 0.148, p = 0.008), serum calcium (r = 0.224, p = 0.001), and food preference (meat (r = 0.18, p = 0.002), vegetables and fruits (r = –0.201, p = 0.012)). Interestingly, the serum Al level of both CRF-H and CRF-NH patients was significantly influenced by blood transfusions (p < 0.05), Epo treatment (p < 0.001) and VitD administration (p < 0.001), as were the disease duration and serum creatinine level in CRF-NH patients (r = 0.412, p < 0.0001; r = 0.452, p < 0.001, respectively). Conclusion: Al accumulation still exists in CRF patients in East China despite the very low Al levels found in dialysis fluid (< 2 µg/l). In the absence of an adequate renal function, uptake via food or medication seems to be a significant determinant of Al accumulation resulting in higher serum Al levels with age and duration of CRF before entering dialysis.Correspondence to:
P.C. D’Haese, PhD
Laboratory of Pathophysiology
Campus CDE – Universiteitsplein 1 (building T3)
University of Antwerp
2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
Email: patrick.dhaese@ua.ac.be
Original
Effects of zinc and selenium pretreatment on vanadium-induced cytotoxicity in vitro
I. Zwolak and H. Zaporowska
Abstract
I. Zwolak and H. Zaporowska
Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Environmental Protection, John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
The main objective of the present report was to continue our earlier studies on the effects of zinc and selenium on vanadium-induced cytotoxicity in BALB/3T3 cell culture. Research included the measurement of the following parameters: lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release (cytotoxic assay), intracellular content of hydrogen peroxide and the activity of cellular glutathione peroxidase (c-GPx). The results showed that 24 h exposure of cells to 50, 100 and 200 µM NaVO3 alone (without zinc or selenium pretreatment) caused a marked increase in LDH release and elevation of hydrogen peroxide production. The activity of c-GPx was slightly but not significantly increased, in cells exposed to 50 (p = 0,756) and 100 (p = 0,567) µM NaVO3 compared to control, which was probably a cellular defensive response to vanadium-induced oxidative stress. The incubation of cells in medium supplemented with 5 µM ZnCl2 for 24 h before NaVO3 exposure, had no effect on the above mentioned measurements. Similarly, pretreatment with 0.5 µM Na2SeO3 did not provide defense against vanadium induced cell membrane damage (LDH assay) and hydrogen peroxide production. In selenium pretreated cells, the activity of glutathione peroxidase was largely (p < 0.001) increased compared to control, which was practically unchanged following subsequent NaVO3 exposure. Nevertheless, the high activity of GPx did not carry any protection against vanadium induced cell injury. Hence, we conclude that under our experimental conditions, zinc (as ZnCl2) and selenium (as Na2SeO3) do not alleviate vanadium (V5+) cytotoxicity in BALB/3T3 cell culture.Correspondence to:
Dr. I. Zwolak
Department of Cell Biology
Institute of Environmental Protection
John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin
Krasnicka Ave. 102, 20-718 Lublin, Poland
Email: iglina@kul.lublin.pl
Meeting Report
Some more steps on the way to clinical elementology – Report of the Eighth Workshop on Trace Elements and Electrolytes – AKTE 2/2006, Bielefeld, Germany, December 12, 2006
O. Micke, R. Muecke, J. Buentzel, K. Kisters and U. Schaefer on Behalf of the German Working Group Trace Elements and Electrolytes in Oncology
Abstract
O. Micke, R. Muecke, J. Buentzel, K. Kisters and U. Schaefer on Behalf of the German Working Group Trace Elements and Electrolytes in Oncology
Abstracts
Selected Abstracts of the Eighth Workshop on Trace Elements and Electrolytes – AKTE 2/2006, Bielefeld, Germany, December 12, 2006
Organizers: O. Micke, R. Mücke, J. Büntzel, K. Kisters and U. Schäfer
Abstract
Organizers: O. Micke, R. Mücke, J. Büntzel, K. Kisters and U. Schäfer
Letter to the Editor
A case of congenital adrenogenital syndrome with disordered magnesium metabolism
K. Kisters, S. Brylak, B. Gremmler, M.Q. Nguyen, B. Krämer and F. Tokmak
Abstract
K. Kisters, S. Brylak, B. Gremmler, M.Q. Nguyen, B. Krämer and F. Tokmak
