Red mold rice promoted antioxidase activity against oxidative injury and improved the memory ability of zinc-deficient rats.

Zn deficiency is a common disease leading to memory impairment with increasing age. This study evaluated the protection effects of red mold rice (RMR) administration and Zn supplementation against memory and learning ability impairments from oxidative stress caused by Zn deficiency. Rats (4 weeks old) were induced to be Zn deficiency by a Zn-deficient diet for 12 weeks.

Correlation between the iron, magnesium, potassium and zinc content in adolescent girls' hair and their academic records.

Background: The aim of this study is to investigate the correlation between school academic records and the iron, magnesium, potassium, and zinc content in adolescent girls' hair.

Methods: The iron, magnesium, potassium, and zinc content in hair samples from 148 adolescent girls was determined by atomic absorption spectrometer. Their academic records from 2 school semesters were interrelated.

Concentrations of calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, potassium, sodium and zinc in adult female hair with different body mass indexes in Taiwan.

We investigated concentrations of calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, potassium, sodium and zinc using atomic absorption spectroscopy in the hair of four groups of adult females (n = 392), ranging in age from 20 to 50 years, with different body mass index (BMI): BMI < 18, slim group; BMI 18-25, normal group; BMI 26-35, overweight or obese group; and BMI>35, morbidly obese group. We found that the group with BMI < 18 had the highest ratios for [Ca]/[Mg], [Fe]/[Cu] and [Zn]/[Cu], but the lowest ratio for [K]/[Na] in hair. On the contrary, the group with BMI > 35 had the highest ratio for [K]/[Na], but the lowest for [Fe]/[Cu] and [Zn]/[Cu] in hair.

Blood concentrations of selenium, zinc, iron, copper and calcium in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

We used an atomic absorption spectrophotometric method to determine the concentration of selenium, zinc, iron, copper and calcium in the whole blood of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. The results demonstrate that these patients have a lower concentration of selenium (0.18 +/- 0.