[Studies on the relationships between blood trace metal concentrations and the clinical status of patients with cerebrovascular disease, gastric cancer and diabetes mellitus].

This study was carried out to determine the relationships between blood trace metal concentrations and the clinical status of patients with cerebrovascular disease, gastric cancer and diabetes mellitus. The concentrations of blood trace metals were determined by flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The concentrations were compared to clinical parameters such as blood biochemical parameters, CBC, etc. The contribution of blood trace elements to these three diseases and the possibilities for prophylaxis of these three diseases are discussed. The results obtained were as follow: 1. Patients with cerebrovascular disease showed generally lower concentrations than normal subjects, while the gender difference of the blood metal concentrations showed a pattern similar to that of normal subjects. In some combination, significant correlations were observed between blood metal concentrations and clinical biochemical parameters. 2. As the stage of gastric cancer advanced, blood copper concentrations increased. In all gastric cancer patients the blood copper concentration had a positive correlation with platelet counts, CEA and LDH, and a negative correlation with hemoglobin concentrations, hematocrit value and catalase. Plasma copper concentrations had a significant positive correlation with catalase. Corpuscular zinc concentrations had a significant positive correlation with platelet counts, CEA, ALP and LDH, and a significant negative correlation with hemoglobin concentration and GSH-Px. Corpuscular manganese concentrations had a significant positive correlation with CEA and LDH. 3. The blood copper concentration of patients with diabetes mellitus showed a distribution pattern similar to that of healthy subjects. Therefore, copper is not considered to be an important factor in diabetes mellitus. Diabetic patients treated by insulin injection showed increased blood zinc concentrations. Chromium, which is contained in GTF (glucose tolerance factor), showed lower blood concentrations in patients with severe complications, such as retinopathy or nephropathy. Therefore, it appears that chromium plays an important role in advancing diabetes mellitus.