Selenium, Copper and Zinc Levels in Female Subjects with Uterine Fibroid in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Kemzi Elechi-Amadi; Ojoye Ngoye Briggs

doi:10.37899/mjdh.v3i3.377

Authors

Kemzi Elechi-Amadi Department of Clinical Chemistry, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt
Ojoye Ngoye Briggs Department of Clinical Chemistry, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37899/mjdh.v3i3.377

Keywords:

Copper, Selenium, Trace Elements, Uterine Fibroids, Uterine Leiomyoma, Zinc-Copper Ratio

Abstract

Uterine fibroids are common benign tumors whose biological mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Altered trace-element homeostasis may be relevant to the oxidative and cellular processes associated with fibroid biology. This study examined serum selenium, copper, zinc, and copper/zinc ratio among women with uterine fibroids. The study included 140 women aged 20–50 years, comprising 80 participants with uterine fibroids and 60 controls. Serum selenium, copper, and zinc concentrations were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometry, and the copper/zinc ratio was calculated. Between-group differences were evaluated using an independent-samples t-test, while differences according to disease duration were assessed using analysis of variance. Women with uterine fibroids had lower mean selenium and zinc concentrations than controls, whereas copper concentration and copper/zinc ratio were higher. The reported between-group differences were statistically significant. Among the 50 participants with available disease-duration data, no significant differences were observed in selenium, copper, zinc, or copper/zinc ratio across the three duration categories. The study provides population-specific evidence of altered serum trace-element profiles in women with uterine fibroids. The findings support further investigation of trace-element homeostasis as a potential component of fibroid biology, while longitudinal research is required to establish temporal relationships and clinical relevance.

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