Determination of Blood Calcium and Lead Concentrations in Osteoporotic and Osteopenic Patients in Pakistan.

Osteoporosis is the leading cause of deformity and bones fracture all over the world and has some relationship with the blood concentrations of calcium and lead. Therefore, in the current study, the blood samples of 58 control and 56 clinically diagnosed osteoporotic and osteopenic patients were taken from different hospitals in Pakistan and analyzed for calcium and lead concentrations using atomic absorption spectrometry. In female control samples, the mean calcium value was found to be 98.53 ± 4.81 µg/mL, and in male control samples, the mean blood calcium level was found to be 121.33 ± 7.27 µg/mL. In female control samples, the mean lead value was found to be 0.133 ± 0.005 µg/mL, and in male control samples, the mean lead level was found to be 0.183 ± 0.008 µg/mL. All the male and female control samples showed a mean value of calcium of 115.63 ± 5.2 µg/mL and a mean value of lead of 0.153 ± 0.007 µg/mL. In osteoporotic female patients, the decline in the mean calcium value was found to be 34.93 ± 1.9 µg/mL, and in male patients, the decrease in the mean calcium level was found to be 47.73 ± 2.5 µg/mL. The increase in the mean value of lead in osteoporotic females was 4.13 ± 0.22 µg/mL, whereas in male patients, the increase in the mean lead value was 0.95 ± 0.07 µg/mL. All the male and female patients showed a decrease in the mean value of calcium of 41.43 ± 2.2 µg/mL and an increase in the mean value of Pb of 3.63 ± 0.16 µg/mL.

A probable risk factor of female breast cancer: study on benign and malignant breast tissue samples.

The study reports enhanced Fe, Cu, and Zn contents in breast tissues, a probable risk factor of breast cancer in females. Forty-one formalin-fixed breast tissues were analyzed using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Twenty malignant, six adjacent to malignant and 15 benign tissues samples were investigated. The malignant tissues samples were of grade 11 and type invasive ductal carcinoma. The quantitative comparison between the elemental levels measured in the two types of specimen (benign and malignant) tissues (removed after surgery) suggests significant elevation of these metals (Fe, Cu, and Zn) in the malignant tissue. The specimens were collected just after mastectomy of women aged 19 to 59 years from the hospitals of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Most of the patients belong to urban areas of Pakistan. Findings of study depict that these elements have a promising role in the initiation and development of carcinoma as consistent pattern of elevation for Fe, Cu, and Zn was observed. The results showed the excessive accumulation of Fe (229 ± 121 mg/L) in malignant breast tissue samples of patients (p < 0.05) to that in benign tissues samples (49.1 ± 11.4 mg/L). Findings indicated that excess accumulation of iron in malignant tissues can be a risk factor of breast cancer. In order to validate our method of analysis, certified reference material muscle tissue lyophilized (IAEA) MA-M-2/TM was analyzed for metal studied. Determined concentrations were quite in good agreement with certified levels. Asymmetric concentration distribution for Fe, Cu, and Zn was observed in both malignant and benign tissue samples.

Calcium supplements: an additional source of lead contamination.

The risk posed by the quantity of heavy metal lead present in Ca supplements is of grave concern. Some lead levels have been measured up to the extent of regulatory limit set by the United States. Calcium supplements inevitably get contaminated with lead as both are naturally occurring elements having the same charge density. Therefore, it is imperative to indicate the level of this toxic metal in these supplements in order to create awareness among consumers. The calcium in the supplements is derived from natural as well as synthetic/refined sources (chelated or non-chelated). In this study, a sophisticated analytical technique, atomic absorption spectrometer (both with FAAS and GFAAS modes of atomization), was used for the purpose of analyzing Pb contents in 27 commonly used Ca supplements manufactured by different national and multinational companies. The daily intake of lead through these supplements was calculated. Only 10% of the calcium supplements analyzed met the criteria of acceptable Pb levels (1.5 µg/daily dose) in supplements/consumer products set by the United States. It was also found that Pb intake was highest in chelated calcium supplements whereas lowest through calcium supplements with vitamin D formulation. The Pb concentration in calcium supplements was significantly increased (p < 0.001) according to their composition. In order to validate our results from the study conducted, IAEA-certified reference material (animal bone, H-5) was analyzed for Pb levels. The limit of detection of the method used was 0.05 µg/g and a 95% lead recovery of IAEA-certified reference material (animal bone, H-5).