Blood lead, manganese, and aluminum levels in a regional Italian cohort of ALS patients: does aluminum have an influence?
J Occup Environ Med 2015;
56:1062-6. [PMID:
25285828 DOI:
10.1097/jom.0000000000000266]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
To study aluminum (Al), manganese (Mn), and lead (Pb) influence on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) development.
METHODS
A total of 34 patients (10% of the regional ALS population) and 25 controls of an Italian region were enrolled. Metal concentrations were determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy.
RESULTS
Serum Al concentrations in patients and controls were similar and lower than those provided by the Italian Society of Reference Values. No differences were observed in serum Mn concentrations, while, as expected, blood Pb levels were significantly higher in patients with ALS than those in controls.
CONCLUSIONS
Results confirmed the association between high Pb blood levels and ALS; on the contrary, Al and Mn did not differ significantly in patients and controls, suggesting that Mn and especially Al may play a less important role in the ALS pathogenesis.
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