The Relationship between Serum Zinc Levels and Hematological Parameters of Hemodialysis Patients

Abstract

Aim: Zinc modulates the expression of zinc-specific erythroid-specific genes, plays an important role in the growth of erythroid cells, and provides normal erythropoiesis with a potential role in the serial development of hematopoietic stem cells and megakaryocytes. Zinc deficiency has been reported to cause anemia by affecting hemoglobin biosynthesis. The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between serum zinc levels and hematological parameters of hemodialysis patients.

Subjects and Methods: The study was conducted on a total of 65 adult volunteer patients (ages between 19 and 65 years), 36 men and 29 women who received dialysis treatment three days a week in special dialysis center. A questionnaire including general information, health information was applied with the face to face interview method and biochemical parameters of the last three months were recorded from the files. Food consumptions of the patients for three days (one dialysis day, non-dialysis day and one weekend) were recorded. For serum zinc analysis, 10 mL blood samples were taken by hemodialysis nurses after at least 8 hours fasting from patients. Serum zinc analysis was performed in Selcuk University Advanced Technology Application Laboratory with ICP-MS (Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry) technique in Perkin Elmer device.

Results: Median and interquantile range (IQR) values of serum zinc levels were 106.7 and 46.9 μg/dL in men and 110.2 and 48.6 μg/dL in women, respectively (p> 0.05). There was a positive correlation between serum zinc levels and hemoglobin (r=0.344, p=0.005), hematocrit (r=0.336, p=0.006), total iron binding capacity (r=0.302, p=0.014). Serum zinc levels were not correlated with serum iron (r= 0.072, p=0.567) and serum ferritin (r=0.073, p=0.552). There was no relationship between serum zinc levels and iron intake of the patients (r=-0.030, p=0.810).

Conclusion: Correlation between serum zinc levels and some hematological parameters in hemodialysis patients suggests that serum zinc levels may be associated with anemia, which is common in these patients.