ELEMENTAL CONCENTRATIONS IN NIGERIANS WITH AFFECTIVE-DISORDERS USING PROTON-INDUCED X-RAY-EMISSION

The concentrations of a number of elements are determined in the plasm a and erythrocytes of 21 Nigerians (11 females, 10 males) with symptom atic affective disorders (11 depressives, 10 manics) and in 40 normal controls using proton-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) analysis. The stud y shows that there is significant elevation of plasma K and Zn, as wel l as the erythrocyte S in the patients relative to the controls. The p lasma and erythrocyte Cu, and the erythrocyte P, Ca, Fe, and Zn are si gnificantly lower in the patients compared to the controls. However, t he plasma levels of Ca, S, Fe, and Br are similar in both the patients and the controls. Similarly, the concentrations of K, Br, and Rb show no significant difference in the erythrocytes of patients and control s