Skip to main content
NCBI home page
Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry logoLink to Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry
. 1982 Aug;45(8):691–698. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.45.8.691

Zinc and copper in multiple sclerosis.

R Palm, G Hallmans
PMCID: PMC1083158  PMID: 7130993

Abstract

The serum concentrations of zinc and copper were measured in 50 patients with multiple sclerosis. Lower serum zinc levels were found compared to age- and sex-matched controls. In younger patients low serum copper concentrations were noted. Zinc concentrations in CSF were unchanged. The possibility that malabsorption of the metals causes the low serum concentrations is discussed.

Full text

PDF
691

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Bateson M. C., Hopwood D., MacGillivray J. B. Jejunal morphology in multiple sclerosis. Lancet. 1979 May 26;1(8126):1108–1110. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(79)91790-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Cammer W., Fredman T., Rose A. L., Norton W. T. Brain carbonic anhydrase: activity in isolated myelin and the effect of hexachlorophene. J Neurochem. 1976 Jul;27(1):165–171. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.1976.tb01559.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Chooi M. K., Todd J. K., Boyd N. D. Influence of age and sex on plasma zinc levels in normal and diabetic individuals. Nutr Metab. 1976;20(2):135–142. doi: 10.1159/000175697. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Chvapil M., Ryan J. N., Zukoski C. F. Effect of zinc on lipid peroxidation in liver microsomes and mitochondria. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 1972 Oct;141(1):150–153. doi: 10.3181/00379727-141-36734. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Dowling P. C., Cook S. D. Disease markers in acute multiple sclerosis. Arch Neurol. 1976 Oct;33(10):668–667. doi: 10.1001/archneur.1976.00500100002003. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Foley B., Johnson S. A., Hackley B., Smith J. C., Jr, Halsted J. A. Zinc content of human platelets. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 1968 May;128(1):265–269. doi: 10.3181/00379727-128-32993. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Giroux E. L., Durieux M., Schechter P. J. A study of zinc distribution in human serum. Bioinorg Chem. 1976;5(3):211–218. doi: 10.1016/s0006-3061(00)82019-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Gupta J. K., Ingegno A. P., Cook A. W., Pertschuk L. P. Multiple sclerosis and malabsorption. Am J Gastroenterol. 1977 Dec;68(6):560–565. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Halsted J. A., Smith J. C., Jr Plasma-zinc in health and disease. Lancet. 1970 Feb 14;1(7642):322–324. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(70)90701-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Hartoma T. R. Serum zinc and copper and the geological environment in Finland. Ann Acad Sci Fenn A. 1977;(171):3–10. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Hähn N., Paschen K., Haller J. Das Verhalten von Kupfer, Eisen, Magnesium, Calcium und Zink bei Frauen mit normalem Menstruationscyclus, unter Einnahme von Ovulationshemmern und in der Gravidität. Arch Gynakol. 1972;213(2):176–186. doi: 10.1007/BF00667673. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Jameson S. Zinc deficiency in malabsorption states: a cause of infertility? Acta Med Scand Suppl. 1976;593:38–49. doi: 10.1111/j.0954-6820.1976.tb12825.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Johnson K. P., Likosky W. H., Nelson B. J., Fein G. Comprehensive viral immunology of multiple sclerosis. I. Clinical, epidemiological, and CSF studies. Arch Neurol. 1980 Sep;37(9):537–541. doi: 10.1001/archneur.1980.00500580033003. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Jones P. E., Pallis C., Peters T. J. Morphological and biochemical findings in jejunal biopsies from patients with multiple sclerosis. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1979 May;42(5):402–406. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.42.5.402. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Kiilerich S., Christensen M. S., Naestoft J., Christiansen C. Determination of zinc in serum and urine by atomic absorption spectrophotometry; relationship between serum levels of zinc and proteins in 104 normal subjects. Clin Chim Acta. 1980 Aug 4;105(2):231–239. doi: 10.1016/0009-8981(80)90465-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Kravtsova A. F. Soderzhanie medi v syvorotke i likvore bol'nykh rasseiannym sklerozom, po dannym émissionnogo spektral'nogo analiza. Zh Nevropatol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova. 1967;67(2):213–216. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. LOWRY O. H., ROSEBROUGH N. J., FARR A. L., RANDALL R. J. Protein measurement with the Folin phenol reagent. J Biol Chem. 1951 Nov;193(1):265–275. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Lange L. S., Shiner M. Small-bowel abnormalities in multiple sclerosis. Lancet. 1976 Dec 18;2(7999):1319–1322. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(76)91972-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Laurell C. B. Electroimmuno assay. Scand J Clin Lab Invest Suppl. 1972;124:21–37. doi: 10.3109/00365517209102748. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Lindeman R. D., Clark M. L., Colmore J. P. Influence of age and sex on plasma and red-cell zinc concentrations. J Gerontol. 1971 Jul;26(3):358–363. doi: 10.1093/geronj/26.3.358. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. MILLER J. K., MILLER W. J. Experimental zinc deficiency and recovery of calves. J Nutr. 1962 Apr;76:467–474. doi: 10.1093/jn/76.4.467. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Menon I. A., Haberman H. F. Formation of melanin-tyrosinase complex and its possible significance as a model for control of melanin synthesis. Acta Derm Venereol. 1978;58(1):9–11. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Mickel H. S. Multiple sclerosis: a new hypothesis. Perspect Biol Med. 1975 Spring;18(3):363–374. doi: 10.1353/pbm.1975.0045. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. NEUMAYER E., PERGER F., SCHINKO H., TSCHABITSCHER H. Das Serumeiweissbild bei der Multiplen Sklerose. Wien Z Nervenheilkd Grenzgeb. 1956;13(1-2):46–64. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. PLUM C. M., HANSEN S. E. Studies on variations in serum copper and serum copper oxidase activity, together with studies on the copper content of the cerebrospinal fluid, with particular reference to the variations in multiple sclerosis. Acta Psychiatr Scand Suppl. 1960;35(148):41–78. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1960.tb08680.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. PRESS E. M. Electrophoresis of sera in multiple sclerosis and other neurological diseases. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1956 Aug;19(3):222–223. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.19.3.222. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Prohaska J. R., Luecke R. W., Jasinski R. Effect of zinc deficiency from day 18 of gestation and-or during lactation on the development of some rat brain enzymes. J Nutr. 1974 Nov;104(11):1525–1531. doi: 10.1093/jn/104.11.1525. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Prohaska J. R., Wells W. W. Copper deficiency in the developing rat brain: a possible model for Menkes' steely-hair disease. J Neurochem. 1974 Jul;23(1):91–98. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.1974.tb06920.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Radomski M. W., Wood J. D. Effect of metal ions on oxygen toxicity. Aerosp Med. 1970 Dec;41(12):1382–1387. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. STERNLIEB I., JANOWITZ H. D. ABSORPTION OF COPPER IN MALABSORPTION SYNDROMES. J Clin Invest. 1964 Jun;43:1049–1055. doi: 10.1172/JCI104988. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Tibbling G., Link H., Ohman S. Principles of albumin and IgG analyses in neurological disorders. I. Establishment of reference values. Scand J Clin Lab Invest. 1977 Sep;37(5):385–390. doi: 10.1080/00365517709091496. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. VOLK B. W., SAIFER A., RABINER A. M., ORESKES I. Protein profile in multiple sclerosis. AMA Arch Neurol Psychiatry. 1955 Jan;73(1):66–75. doi: 10.1001/archneurpsyc.1955.02330070068009. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. Walker B. E., Dawson J. B., Kelleher J., Losowsky M. S. Plasma and urinary zinc in patients with malabsorption syndromes or hepatic cirrhosis. Gut. 1973 Dec;14(12):943–948. doi: 10.1136/gut.14.12.943. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  34. Wikström J., Westermarck T., Palo J. Selenium, vitamin E and copper in multiple sclerosis. Acta Neurol Scand. 1976 Sep;54(3):287–290. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0404.1976.tb04806.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  35. Wong E. K., Jr, Enomoto H., Leopold I. H., Fleischer E. B., Schoon D. V., Fender D., Tucker H. G., Adamson B., Kladde L., Kazan D. Plasma zinc levels in multiple sclerosis. Metab Pediatr Ophthalmol. 1980;4(1):3–8. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  36. Yunice A. A., Lindeman R. D., Czerwinski A. W., Clark M. Influence of age and sex on serum copper and ceruloplasmin levels. J Gerontol. 1974 May;29(3):277–281. doi: 10.1093/geronj/29.3.277. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  37. Zimmerman A. W., Matthieu J. M., Quarles R. H., Brady R. O., Hsu J. M. Hypomyelination in copper-deficient rats. Prenatal and postnatal copper replacement. Arch Neurol. 1976 Feb;33(2):111–119. doi: 10.1001/archneur.1976.00500020039007. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES