Table 2.
Effect of drug habit and sex practice on micromineral status (mean ± sd in μmol/L) of drug dependent subjects.
| Parameter | % (n) | Coppera (μmol/L) Mean ± SD | Zincb (μmol/L) Mean ± SD | Ironc (μmol/L) Mean ± SD |
| Number of drugs1 | ||||
| 1–2 | 39.9 (101) | 21.3 ± 5.8 | 13.8 ± 4.5 | 20.0 ± 5.9 |
| 3 | 37.9 (96) | 21.2 ± 5.7 | 14.1 ± 5.0 | 20.3 ± 6.9 |
| 4–5 | 22.2 (56) | 22.6 ± 6.2 | 13.5 ± 3.6 | 22.1 ± 7.3 |
| Period of drug abuse2 | ||||
| 1–5 y | 38.7 (98) | 20.9 ± 5.2* | 14.5 ± 5.0 | 19.9 ± 5.9* |
| 6–10 y | 42.7 (108) | 21.4 ± 5.8 * | 13.5 ± 3.8 | 20.0 ± 7.1* |
| 11–40 y | 18.6 (47) | 23.5 ± 6.8* | 13.1 ± 4.9 | 23.3 ± 5.8* |
| Sex partner3 | ||||
| 0–5 | 37.5 (95) | 20.1 ± 5.0 | 13.8 ± 4.2* | 19.4 ± 5.9 |
| 6–10 | 20.2 (51) | 22.2 ± 6.6 | 15.8 ± 6.4* | 20.9 ± 7.2 |
| 11–15 | 12.3 (31) | 22.3 ± 7.2 | 12.6 ± 3.5* | 22.6 ± 6.1 |
| 16–150 | 30.0 (76) | 21.5 ± 5.7 | 13.1 ± 3.4* | 20.7 ± 6.8 |
| Condom use4 | ||||
| Occasional use | 23.7 (60) | 21.9 ± 6.9 | 13.3 ± 4.6 | 20.8 ± 61 |
| No use | 76.3 (193) | 21.5 ± 5.5 | 14.0 ± 4.5 | 20.4 ± 6.6 |
| STD5 | ||||
| Syph-gonorrhoea | 59.3 (150) | 21.4 ± 6.1 | 13.4 ± 4.9 | 20.9 ± 6.5 |
| No STD | 40.7 (103) | 21.9 ± 5.5 | 14.5 ± 3.9 | 19.9 ± 6.1 |
* Significant (p < 0.05) using one-way ANOVA.
Number of drugs: 1 = heroin, 2 = cannabis, 3 = phensedyl (codein, ephedrine and promethazine), 4 = injections (pethedine, buprenorphine, diazepam, promethazine), 5 = tablets (benzodiazepines).
2aF(2,250) = 3.45, p = 0.030
2cF(2,250) = 5.20, p = 0.001
3bF(3,249) = 4.84, p = 0.003