Influence of heavy metals, especially lead, on lipid metabolism, serum alpha-tocopherol level, total antioxidant status, and erythrocyte redox status of copper smelter workers

• Published in: Fresenius' journal of analytical chemistry 1997-06, Vol.361 (4), p.365-367
• Main Authors: Antonowicz, J, Andrzejak, R, Lepetow, T
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0937-0633

An assessment of influence of the occupational exposure to heavy metals, especially lead, on serum lipids (including lipid peroxides), total antioxidant status, erythrocyte redox status, and serum alpha-tocopherol level was performed in a group of 141 healthy male copper smelter workers. The following parameters were measured: blood lead and cadmium levels, serum manganese, copper, zinc, calcium and magnesium levels, free erythrocyte protoporphyrins (FEP), total cholesterol, HDL sub 2 -, HDL sub 3 -cholesterol, triglycerides and lipid peroxides in serum, erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD sub E ), catalase (Cat sub E ) and glutathion peroxidase (PxGSH sub E ) activities, erythrocyte reduced glutathione level (GSH sub E ), serum alpha- tocopherol level, and serum total antioxidant status (TAS). Mean Pb sub B was within the norm range (328.2 plus/minus 141.7 mu g/L), but mean Mn sub S concentration slightly exceeded 10 mu g/L (11.04 plus/minus 3.79 mu g/L). Mean cholesterol and triglycerides concentrations were near the highest borderline values. We found a significantly negative correlation between lead levels and HDL sub 3 -cholesterol (r = 0.253, P < 0.05). Erythrocyte catalase activity and TAS were lowered. TAS showed significant negative correlation with Pb sub B . A group of workers with Pb sub B > = 400 mu g/L had significantly lower Cat sub E , lower TAS, and lower HDL sub 3 -cholesterol, compared to the workers with Pb < 400 mu g/L. We have also found positive correlation between alpha-tocopherol and total cholesterol (r = 0.267, P < 0.05) and between alpha-tocopherol and LDL-cholesterol (r = 0.207, P < 0.05).