Evaluation of Selected Trace Metals' Imbalances in the Whole Blood of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Patients in Comparison with Healthy Subjects.

Human health is closely associated with balances in micronutrients including trace metals, however, occupational/general exposure to toxic metals can pose serious health risks. Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) is an autoinflammatory disease which affects kids and teens before sixteen years of age. The causes of JIA are still unknown; environmental factors involving depletion of essential nutrients and building up of toxins are considered to play important role in onset of such autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. The present study elaborated evaluation of essential (Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu, Co, and Mn) and toxic metals (Cr, Cd and Pb) in the whole blood of JIA patients in comparison to healthy subjects. The blood samples were collected from newly diagnosed JIA patients and matching healthy subjects, and the samples were mineralized by using concentrated nitric acid (HNO3) and perchloric acid (HClO4) by wet acid digestion method. The levels trace metals were measured by using flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer (FAAS). The average concentrations of Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb and Zn were noted to be higher in the blood of JIA patients while average levels of Ca and Mg were found higher in the blood of healthy subjects. The correlation analysis indicated mutual build-up or depletion of trace metals, and it revealed significantly different associations among the metal pairs in JIA patients and healthy subjects. Multivariate analysis depicted mutual apportionment of the essential and toxic metals in blood of the JIA patients, while healthy subjects showed discrete apportionment of essential and toxic metals. Viable variations in levels of the metals based on gender, residence, smoking habits and food habits were also evaluated in JIA patients as well as healthy subjects.