Elemental composition of blood and hair of mentally–ill patients using ICPOES techniques

Abstract

Elemental concentrations of blood and hair of 40 mentally-ill patients and 40 controls (healthy subjects) were determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrophotometer (ICP-OES) in order to find out the metal burden of the patients with their level of significance and possible relationship of such elements with mental illness. Generally, higher concentrations of trace elements were obtained in the hair than in the blood. A concentration range of 90 - 400 ìg/g was obtained for Mg, K and Fe in hair of patients and controls, 80-7400 ìg/g was obtained in their blood; other elements range 0.001-30 ìg/g in both blood and hair of patients and controls. Comparative study of statistical significance of median values between different groups was determined by applying a non parametric test (Mann-Whitney) showed that concentrations of Ba, Be, Cr, Li, Mg, Fe and K were significantly higher in patients’ blood, while Al, Ba, Be, Na, Cd, Cr, Li, K, Mn,Mg and Sr were significantly higher in patient’s hair. Concentrations of most elements are higher in the hair and blood of the mentally ill patients than in the healthy controls. Deficiency of Cu and Zn might be causally related to the illness.