SERUM ZINC AND COPPER CONCENTRATIONS AND CU ZN RATIOS IN PATIENTS WITH HEPATOPATHIES OR DIABETES/

The serum zinc and copper levels, as well as Zn/Cu ratios, were determ ined in 30 patients (18 with diabetes and 12 with hepatopathies) and c ompared to healthy-age matched controls by atomic absorption spectrome try. Serum Zn (0.946 +/- 0.302 mg/l) and Cu (0.952 +/- 0.355 mg/l) con centrations were not significantly different in patients with hepatopa thies as compared to controls (p>0.05). Serum Zn concentrations (0.778 +/- 0.164 mg/l) were significantly lower in diabetic patients than th ose determined in controls (p<0.01). In contrast, Cu levels (0.987 +/- 0.305 mg/l) were not significantly different (p>0.05) than in control s. Serum Cu/Zn ratios were not significantly different in patients wit h diabetes or hepatopathies than those measured in healthy controls (p >0.05). In patients, no statistically significant differences were obs erved in the Zn, Cu and Cu/Zn with respect to sex (p>0.05) or age (p>0 .05).