Serum Zinc in Iraqi Acute Leukemic Patients

Abstract

Background: Leukemia is a group of malignant disorders
associated with increased numbers of blood white blood
cells. Acute leukemia occurs at all ages. Because zinc
influences many body systems and functions, zinc is an
essential nutrient for tissue growth, cellular division,
protein synthesis DNA and RNA replication it also ought to
play a critical role in the growth of tumor. In this study,
serum zinc was estimated in leukemic patients and
compared with healthy subjects.
Methods: The subjects in the present study were; fourtyfour depressed patients aged (14-48 year), thirty-one
apparently healthy subjects were selected as control group.
Their sex and age were comparable to that of patients.
Determination of serum zinc was carried out using flame
atomic absorption spectrophotometer.
Results: The results showed a significant decrease in serum
zinc at (p<0.05) in leukemic patients as compared with
healthy control.
Conclusion: The decrease in serum concentration of zinc in
leukemia can be explained by means of the changes in
immunity system and the need for zinc to synthesize
nucleic acid and tumor cell division in this disorder in
addition to other possible mechanisms