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Imbalance of Plasma Copper and Zinc Levels and the Association Between the Cu/Zn Ratio and Lipid Peroxidation in Algerian Bipolar Patients

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Abstract

Trace elements, through their interaction with biomolecules, can play an important role in the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder and protect against oxidative stress effects. The purpose of this study is to examine plasma concentration levels of zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) of Algerian patients, diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and to compare these levels with those of healthy controls. The Cu/Zn ratio was calculated to explore a possible correlation between these elements and lipid peroxidation in the study groups. A total of 33 patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder and 38 healthy subjects participated in this study. Plasma copper and zinc concentrations were measured using a polarographic analyzer. The marker of plasma lipid peroxidation (Malondialdehyde: MDA) was determined by UV spectrophotometry. Plasma Cu concentrations were higher in patients compared to controls (p < 0.05), while the Zn level was significantly lower. Consequently, the Cu/Zn ratio was significantly different between patients and controls. Regarding MDA, no significant difference was noticed between the two study groups. However, in patients, a negative correlation was found between MDA and Cu/Zn ratio (r= −0.38, p= 0.027). These results suggested that an elevated Cu/Zn ratio is associated with attenuated lipid peroxidation in our bipolar patients.

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Data Availability

The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the patients and healthy volunteers who participated in this study.

Funding

This work was supported by the General Direction of Scientific Research and Technological Development (DGRSDT), as part of the socio-economic research project entitled “Implication of micronutrients in the development of certain pathologies in western Algeria” (Project No. 12/Univ-Tlemcen/DGRSDT, 2019, Algeria).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Analytical Chemistry and Electrochemistry Laboratory, Department of Biology, University of Abou Bekr Belkaïd, 13,000, Tlemcen, Algeria

    Ikram Chebieb, Nouria Dennouni Medjati & Majda Dali-Sahi

  2. Analytical Chemistry and Electrochemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Abou Bekr Belkaïd, 13,000, Tlemcen, Algeria

    Yahia Harek

  3. Physiology, Physiopathology and Biochemistry of Nutrition Laboratory, Department of Biology, University of Abou Bekr Belkaïd, 13,000, Tlemcen, Algeria

    Baya Guermouche

  4. Analytical Chemistry and Electrochemistry Laboratory, Department of Biology, University of Hassiba Benbouali, 02,000, Chlef, Algeria

    Youssouf Kachekouche

  5. Division of Adults, Hospital Center of Rouvray, 76,600, Rouen, France

    Cherifa Benosman

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  1. Ikram Chebieb
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Contributions

Nouria Dennouni-Medjati conceived the study design. Ikram Chebieb and Cherifa Benosman collected the sample and data via face-to-face interviews. Yahia Harek performed the Cu and Zn measurements. Ikram Chebieb and Baya Guermouche analyzed MDA. Ikram Chebieb and Youssouf Kachekouche performed the statistical analysis. Ikram Chebieb and Nouria Dennouni-Medjati prepared the first draft of the manuscript. Nouria Dennouni-Medjati and Majda Dali-Sahi corrected the final version. All authors read and approved the final version.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ikram Chebieb.

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This study was performed in line with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Approval was granted by the scientific council of the faculty as well as the ethics and deontology committee of the University of Tlemcen (CEDUT 03/07/2018).

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Chebieb, I., Medjati, N.D., Harek, Y. et al. Imbalance of Plasma Copper and Zinc Levels and the Association Between the Cu/Zn Ratio and Lipid Peroxidation in Algerian Bipolar Patients. Biol Trace Elem Res 202, 2450–2456 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-023-03858-y

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