Date of Award

Spring 1986

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Chemistry & Biochemistry

Program/Concentration

Chemistry

Committee Director

Patricia A. Pleban

Committee Member

Reuben D. Rohn

Committee Member

Blair A. Chrenka

Committee Member

John D. Van Norman

Call Number for Print

Special Collections; LD4331.C45J46

Abstract

Trace element levels in blood from diabetic children were investigated and compared to control children. Plasma, erythrocyte, mononuclear and polymorphonuclear cells were analyzed for magnesium, copper, and zinc content. Leukocyte separation was performed by density gradient centrifugation on Ficoll-Hypaque, followed by washing steps to remove platelet contamination and hypotonic lysis to remove red cell contamination. Polarized Zeeman-effect atomic absorption spectroscopy was used for trace metal analysis.

Decreased plasma magnesium levels were observed in the diabetic children. This finding is well documented and probably due to increased urinary magnesium loss from glycosuria. Lymphocyte magnesium levels in the diabetic children were also significantly lower than control children, and although the magnesium red blood cell levels were not statistically different from the controls the mean was lower in the diabetic children. No difference in the magnesium neutrophil levels was observed between controls and diabetics. These findings further support the existence of magnesium deficiency in Type I diabetic individuals.

No difference in copper plasma or neutrophil levels was observed between the diabetics and controls. However, the diabetics had significantly lower copper lymphocyte levels. The significance of these findings is unclear.

The erythrocyte zinc levels were significantly lower in the diabetic children. Other zinc blood levels were similar to control levels.

In general, metal levels of polymorphonuclear and mononuclear cells correlated with one another. Magnesium erythrocyte levels correlated with neutrophil and lymphocyte magnesium levels in controls but not in diabetics. In the non-diabetics a strong correlation between the copper mononuclear levels and plasma levels was observed. Zinc red cell levels correlated with zinc lymphocytes levels in both groups. Various other intermetal correlations were observed, however the significance of these findings is obscure.

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DOI

10.25777/ktgx-ng54

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