Estimation of Plasma Levels of Zinc, Copper and Selenium in Yemeni Qat Chewer women

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences University of Sana'a, Yemen

Abstract

As no previous study has evaluated zinc, copper, and selenium in Yemeni women
chewing qat, the purpose of this study was to estimate the effects of chewing qat on
their plasma levels of zinc, copper, and selenium. A total of forty seven healthy, adult,
Yemeni women , were selected and grouped in to 24 healthy Yemeni regularly
chewing qat, and 23 healthy women non-chewing qat. Plasma samples were collected
from two groups for zinc, copper, and selenium analysis by atomic absorption. The
plasma levels (mean ± SD) of zinc, copper, and selenium in Yemeni women chewing
qat were 40 ± 610.6 μg/dl, 70±34.6μg/dl, 50±15.2 μg/dl respectively and the mean ±
SD of zinc, copper, and selenium in Yemeni women non-chewing qat were 60 ±
14.2μg/dl, 40±12.7 μg/dl, and 140±40.6μg/dl. These results, high content of copper
and low level of zinc and selenium among women chewing qat can be attributed to the
antagonistic effect of qat content as (Cathinone, Copper, Vitamin C, and tannin. So
deficiency of zinc and selenium among women chewing qat may increase the risk of
disease.

Keywords

Bulletin of Egyptian Society for Physiological Sciences
Volume 32, Issue 2
December 2012
Pages 245-254

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