Abstract

Investigation of Zinc Concentrations in Serum and Saliva of Obese

Author(s): Abdulkadir Noori Jassim, Mustafa Taha, Safanah Ahmed Farhan and Omer Ahmed

Obesity is rapidly growing epidemic worldwide, influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. The onset of obesity is due mainly to low energy expenditure (such as from exercise) combined with high caloric intake. In this case, control study, serum and saliva of 22 obese with (18-39 years) and 22 healthy person, who matched with the case group in respect of age and gender was gathered and analyzed in order to evaluate serum and saliva Zn levels. Blood and saliva samples obtained from ALkendy Hospital in Baghdad and are compared with that of control group. The data was analyzed using SPSS and independent t-test. The Zn levels were determined by an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Our results demonstrated that serum Zn levels were significantly increased in total, male (p = 0.0001, 0.012), respectively, while non-significantly increased in female of obese as compared with control subjects. In saliva, Zn levels were decreased non-significantly in total, male and female of obese as compared with control subjects. The correlation study between serum and saliva Zn levels indicated that there were significant lower levels (r = 0.972, p = 0.001) in male of obese.