Increased Zinc Serum Level: New Clues in Babol Stroke Patients, Northern Iran

Abstract

Background. Stroke is the second leading cause of death worldwide. The role of zinc as a new predictor of stroke was considered. Methods. This prospective study was conducted in Ayatollah Rouhani Hospital within a year on 100 stroke and 100 control patients. Findings. The difference in zinc serum level in two groups was significant (deficiency: 3 (3) in patients versus 20 (20) in control group, normal: 25 (25) versus 54 (54), and increased level: 72 (72) versus 26 (26); p < 0.001). Difference in zinc serum levels was statistically significant with ischemic heart disease (deficiency: 0 cases (0), normal: 8 cases (24), increased level: 24 cases (75), p = 0.003). Increases in zinc serum level were significantly correlated with the frequency of hemorrhagic and ischemic patients (deficiency: 3 (3.3) hemorrhagic versus 0 (0) ischemic; normal: 19 (21) versus 6 (60), increased level: 68 (75.6) versus 4 (40); p = 0.025). Regression logistics showed that ischemic heart disease (p < 0.001; OR = 28.29, 95 CI: 5.53; 144.87), hyperlipidemia (p < 0.001; OR = 0.26, 95 CI: 0.12; 0.56), and zinc serum level (p < 0.001, OR = 15.53, 95 CI: 4.03; 59.83) each had a significant role. Conclusions. Babol stroke patients are prone to increased zinc serum level as a new parameter. Ischemic heart disease, increased levels of zinc, and hyperlipidemia were found to be probable predictor factors for stroke in Babol.