Changes in levels of copper, iron, zinc, and selenium in patients at different stages of chronic kidney disease

Abstract

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a prevalent disease in the elderly population. Oxidative stress plays an important role in the progression of adverse complications in CKD patients, and many trace elements are involved in the oxidant–antioxidant balance. We investigated serum levels of copper, iron, zinc, and selenium in 145 patients at Stages 1–4 of CKD. There were no significant differences in the copper, iron, and selenium levels between the four stages of CKD. However, the levels of serum zinc showed a statistically decreasing trend in the advanced stages of CKD subjects (p = 0.005). Zinc deficiency may increase oxidative stress and atherosclerotic complications, especially in late-stage CKD patients.