The Amount of Phosphorus in the Blood of Heroin Abusers Compared to that of Healthy Subjects.

Background: The aim of the current retrospective study was to assess any difference in terms of serum phosphate (P) between heroin addicts and healthy subjects.

Methods: Between 2011 and 2012, under the authority of the Greek Organization Against Drugs (OKANA), 30 regular heroin addicts, 22 males and 8 females (Group A) participated at the study. Between 2010 and 2011, 30 healthy individuals, 22 males and 8 females (Group B), presented on an outpatient basis for either fatigue or common flu symptoms without fever at the 424 Military Hospital of Thessaloniki.

Results: No significant difference between group A and B, in terms of either age (p = 0.454, Mann-Whitney test) or male/female ratio (p = 0.573, Chi2 test), suggesting a homogeneity for the population of individuals participating in the study. The mean values of serum-P in group A and B were 3.47 ± 0.65 and 3.35 ± 0.58, respectively (p = 0.45, Mann Whitney test).

Conclusions: The absence of statistical difference of serum-P between heroin addicts and healthy subjects as shown in our results should be confirmed in further studies.