Cent Eur J Public Health 2005, 13(4):202-207

Effects of Age, BMI, Smoking and Contraception on Levels of Cu, Se and Zn in the Blood of the Population in the Czech Republic

Beneš B., Spěváčková V., Šmíd J., Batáriová A., Čejchanová M., Zítková L.

National Institute of Public Health, Prague, Czech Republic

Variations in the levels of Cu, Se and Zn in blood were analyzed in relation to gender, age, BMI, smoking and hormonal contraception. The blood samples were collected from 3,207 blood donors (2,362 men, 845 women) during years 1996-2003. Blood concentrations of these elements were in the same range as those found for populations of other European countries. Significant differences exist between men and women, in blood concentration, for Cu (840 µg Cu.l-1 vs. 970 µg Cu.l-1, p<0.01) and Zn (6,780 µg Zn.l-1 vs. 6,235 µg Zn.l-1, p<0.01) only. The level of Cu in relation to age is increasing in men, but decreasing in women. The level of Se in relation to age increases regardless of sex. Concentrations of Zn rise with age in women group, only. Positive correlation was found between BMI and level of Cu only for group of men. For Se levels and BMI differences exist only in men namely between groups <20 and >35 (82 µg Se.l-1 vs. 92 µg Se.l-1). Slight positive correlations exist between Zn concentration and BMI in women only. The significant differences were found between smokers and non-smokers for Cu in men (850 µg Cu.l-1 vs. 830 µg Cu.l-1) and Se (81 µg Se.l-1 vs. 84 µg Se.l-1). The smoking has not significant influence on concentration of Zn in the blood. The hormonal contraception significantly increases the concentration of Cu in blood (920 µg Cu.l-1 vs. 1,270 µg Cu.l-1, p< 0.01). The levels of Se and Zn in blood are not influenced using hormonal contraception.

Keywords: trace elements, blood, age, BMI, smoking, contraception

Received: October 15, 2005; Revised: August 22, 2005; Accepted: August 22, 2005; Published: December 1, 2005  Show citation