Serum zinc, copper and magnesium in sickle cell disease at Ibadan, south western Nigeria.

Serum zinc, copper and magnesium were studied in patients with sickle cell disease in the steady state. There was significantly lower serum zinc concentration (P < 0.01) and significantly higher serum copper and magnesium in haemoglobin S patients compared with controls (HbA). In haemoglobin SC patients, there was a significant reduction in serum zinc (P < 0.01) but no significant difference in serum copper and magnesium concentrations compared with the controls. There was no significant difference in serum zinc concentration between the HbS and HbS + C patients. However there were significantly higher serum copper and magnesium in HbS than HbS + C patients (P < 0.01) The level of serum zinc has no correlation with the steady state Haematocrit or severity index score in HbS and HbS + C patients.