Abstract
Element contents of teeth elucidate exposure nature, but less is known about association of tooth element concentrations of diabetics and hypertensives with exposure profile. Present study aims to estimate copper, chromium, iron, zinc, nickel, and lead concentrations in the permanent teeth of control, diabetic, and hypertensive subjects from Mysore. The results show that lead levels of teeth (Pb-T) are higher in the hypertensives and diabetics, whereas copper levels of teeth (Cu-T) are lower in the hypertensives and users of stainless steel utensils than that of controls and users of mixed utensils. The elevated Cu-T levels found in the users of mixed utensils that being made of several metals are ascribed to leaching effect of sour and spicy food of Indian cuisine. The element levels were influenced by diet (Zn-T), place of living, sex and income (Pb-T) of the subjects, but not by age, drinking water from different sources, and certain habits viz., smoking, alcohol consumption, chewing betel, and nut. Thus, it is evident that high Pb-T and low Cu-T levels may be related with diabetes and hypertension and high Pb-T and Cu-T levels, respectively, in the urbanites, and the users of mixed utensils may show different exposure profiles from environment and utensils.
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Acknowledgments
The authors, A.Sukumar and G. Nagaraj, thank Professor G.T. Bhandage, Principal, Regional Institute of Education, [NCERT], Mysore for encouragement and the facilities provided. Special thanks are owed to the sample donors of the study and Professor K. Okamoto, National Institute of Environmental Studies, Japan for supply of the CRM.
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Nagaraj, G., Sukumar, A., Nandlal, B. et al. Tooth Element Levels Indicating Exposure Profiles in Diabetic and Hypertensive Subjects from Mysore, India. Biol Trace Elem Res 131, 255–262 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-009-8371-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-009-8371-4