Serum zinc, copper, insulin and lipids in Alzheimer's disease epsilon 4 apolipoprotein E allele carriers

Background Copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) have been implicated in the developmen t of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and, in this regard, Cu and Zn serum concentr ations have been analysed but with inconclusive results. Serum insulin, glu cose and cholesterol concentrations have been related to the apolipoprotein E genotype in non-AD populations. Design In this study, are have analysed the relationship between serum Cu, Zn, insulin, glucose and lipid parameters (cholesterol, triglycerides, apoA and apoB apolipoproteins) in AD and AD epsilon 4 apolipoprotein E carriers by multivariate analysis using logistic regression, including the variable s that showed a significance of P < 0.05 in the bivariate analysis. Results The results obtained show that epsilon 4 apoE allele is an independ ent AD risk factor (OR = 6.67, 95% CI = 2.59-17.16). In AD epsilon 4 apoE a llele carriers, we found significantly higher Zn, Cu and insulin serum conc entrations. Non-demented control subjects with at least one epsilon 4 apoE allele had the lowest serum insulin concentrations. There was no significan t association between epsilon 4 apolipoprotein E allele and lipid parameter s in the sample studied. Conclusions In AD we have found a significant association between higher se rum Zn, Cu and insulin concentrations and the presence of an epsilon 4 apoE allele, but only greater serum Zn concentration appears to be an independe nt risk factor associated with the development of AD.