Coronary Artery Disease Abnormalities of Selected Trace Elements in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease

Background: Coronary artery diseases are multifactorial, and over the last several decades particular consideration and research have been devoted to investigating the imbalance of patient elemental levels. Our current study aimed to investigate the comparative distribution of Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu, Co, Mn, Cr, Cd and Pb in the blood of coronary artery disease patients and healthy subjects. Methods: Blood samples collected from both groups were digested into a HNO3-HCLO4 (10:1 v/v) mixture in a microwave oven, followed by quantification of the elements by atomic absorption spectrometry. Results: The average levels of Pb and Cr were markedly higher (p < 0.001) while those of Ca, Fe, Cu and Mn were moderately higher (p < 0.05) in blood of the patients compared to the controls. However, correlation study showed divergent relationships between various elements in the blood of both groups. Multivariate cluster analysis revealed two major clusters of the elements for patients: Ca-Mg-Mn-Co-Cd and Pb-Cu-Fe-Zn-Cr; whereas three common groups were observed for controls: Ca-Mg-Zn-Cu, Cr-Mn-Fe and Co-Cd-Pb. Variations in the elemental levels were also observed to be associated with gender, habitat, food and smoking habits of the subjects. Conclusions: Overall, the distribution, correlation and apportionment of elemental data indicated an imbalance of the toxic/essential elements in blood of the patients compared to the controls.