Plasma Trace Elements, Vitamin B₁₂, Folate, and Homocysteine Levels in Cirrhotic Patients Compared to Healthy Controls

I. Halifeoglu¹, B. Gur¹, S. Aydin^1*, and A. Ozturk²

¹Department of Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, ²Department of Gastroenterology, Faculty of Medicine, Firat University, 23119 Elazig, Turkey; fax: (90-424) 238-8660; E-mail: saydin1@hotmail.com

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received September 4, 2003; Revision received November 12, 2003

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Increased serum homocysteine (Hcy) can induce liver diseases and can play a remarkable role in hepatic disorders. The purpose of the present study therefore was to investigate the relationship between serum vitamin B₁₂, folate, zinc and copper, cysteine, and Hcy level differences between cirrhotic patients and healthy subjects. We studied 32 cirrhotic patients (12 females and 20 males) aged 45 ± 11 years and 32 control subjects (12 females and 20 males) aged 39 ± 9 years. There was an inverse correlation between Hcy and vitamin B₁₂ in controls (r = -0.442, p < 0.011) but not in cirrhotic patients (r = -0.147, not significant). Also, mean plasma folate was decreased in cirrhotic patients compared to controls (p < 0.001). Copper increased whereas zinc decreased significantly in cirrhotic patients. A positive correlation was seen between the Cu/Zn ratio and Cu in controls (r = 0.690, p < 0.01), but the correlation between the Cu/Zn ratio and Cu was not significant in the cirrhotic group. Negative correlations were seen between plasma concentration of zinc and the Cu/Zn ratio in controls and cirrhotic patients (r = -0.618, p < 0.01 and r = -0.670, p < 0.01, respectively). Cirrhotic patients displayed multiple abnormalities, including changes in cysteine metabolism and in zinc and copper levels. Although hyperhomocysteinemia is known as an atherogenic and thrombogenic risk factor for cardiovascular disease, it might also be a risk factor for cirrhotic patients. Plasma Hcy, vitamin B₁₂, and folic acid measurement may be useful in the evaluation of cirrhotic patients.

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KEY WORDS: cirrhosis, homocysteine, folate, vitamin B₁₂

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