Trace elements and oxidative stress in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

OBJECTIVE: Many trace elements have activator or inhibitor roles in the antioxidative defense systems in diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD). In this study, we aimed to show the levels of trace elements with action in oxidative stress, and to show the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) as a marker of oxidative stress, and the activity of paraoxonase (PON1) as an antioxidant in COPD and smokers.

METHODS: We included 25 patients with COPD, and 20 healthy non-smokers in the study. We selected them from the hospitalized patients at the Hospital of Dicle University, Turkey, between April 2003 and January 2004. The clinical condition of the patients was stable.

RESULTS: The serum copper (Cu) and MDA concentrations in COPD patients were higher than the control group. There were no differences in zinc (Zn) concentration and Cu/Zn ratio between COPD patients and the control group. We found lower serum PON1 activities in COPD patients compared with the control group. There was no statistically significant difference in Zn concentration and Cu/Zn ratio between smokers and non-smokers in COPD. There were statistically signifi-cant differences in Cu, MDA concentrations and serum PON1 activities between smokers and non-smokers in COPD.

CONCLUSION: We could suggest that trace elements such as Cu, oxidants and antioxidants such as MDA and PON1 have roles in oxidative stress, and in COPD.