EVALUATION OF SOME TRACE ELEMENTS (COPPER, SELENIUM, IRON, AND LEAD) IN PATIENTS WITH ACTIVE TUBERCULOSIS ATTENDING CENTRAL HOSPITAL BENIN CITY, EDO STATE.

*Festus, O.O., Omon, E., Dada, F.L. and Iweka, F.K.

ABSTRACT

Pulmonary Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis – aerobic, non-motile bacillus. This disease is known as an ancient disease and still is one of the most serious health problems in the world. The biological role of trace elements, especially Copper, Selenium and Iron in different pathologic conditions has been extensively investigated in many diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum concentrations of some trace elements Iron (Fe), Copper (Cu), Selenium (Se) and Lead (Pb) in patients with active tuberculosis (TB). A total of one hundred (100) samples were used in this study, comprising of sixty (60) patients with active tuberculosis (subjects) attending Central Hospital, Benin City and forty (40) apparently healthy individuals as control. The study population was made up of 26 (43.3%) males and 34 (56.7%) females, while the control population was 18 (45.0%) males and 22 (55.0%) females respectively. Serum levels of copper, selenium, iron and Lead were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The results obtained showed that the concentrations of Iron and Selenium were significantly lower (P<0.05) while that of Copper and Lead were significantly higher (P<0.05) in the serum of patients with tuberculosis compared with the control. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in serum concentrations of Iron, Copper and Selenium in TB patients in relation to sex. Furthermore, there was no significant difference (p>0.05) in the concentration of Copper and Lead in the different age groups. There was also no significant difference (p>0.05) in Iron and Selenium in ages 36-50years and 51-65 years, but there was significant increase (p<0.05) in Iron and Selenium in age 20-35years in both males and females. There was no difference in the mean Copper in ages 20-35years and 36-50years in both males and females but there was a decrease in copper level in age 51-65years in both males and females respectively. Finally, there was a decrease in selenium with increase in age in both males and females. There was also an increase in Lead with increase in age in both males and females respectively. Conclusively, the results indicated that patients with tuberculosis have altered profile of trace elements in their sera. This warrants the need for further investigations so that strategies for trace elements supplementation can be planned in addition to their potential as diagnostic parameters in monitoring responses to anti-TB chemotherapy.

Keywords: Mycobacterium tuberculosis – aerobic, non-motile bacillus.