Abstract
Acne vulgaris is a very common skin disorder affecting human beings. There is a paucity of report on the role of heavy metals—lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd)—globally, and trace metals—zinc (Zn) and copper (Cd)—particularly in Nigeria in the development/severity of acne vulgaris. This study is aimed to determine the blood levels of some heavy metals—cadmium and lead—and trace metals—zinc and copper—in acne vulgaris sufferers in a Nigerian population. Venous blood samples were collected from a total number of 90 non-obese female subjects consisting of 30 mild, 30 moderate and 30 severe acne vulgaris sufferers for blood Cd, Pb, Cu and Zn determination. They were age-matched with 60 females without acne vulgaris who served as the control subjects. Acne sufferers had significantly higher blood Cd and Pb (P = 0.0143 and P = 0.0001 respectively) and non-significantly different blood levels of Cu and Zn (P = 0.910 and P = 0.2140 respectively) compared to controls. There were significant progressive increases in blood levels of Cd and Pb (P = 0.0330 and P = 0.0001 respectively) and non-significant differences in the mean blood level of Cu and Zn (P = 0.1821 and P = 0.2728 respectively) from mild to moderate and severe acne vulgaris sufferers. Increases in blood Cd and Pb may play critical roles in the pathogenesis/severity of acne vulgaris, while Cu and Zn seem to play less significant roles in the development of this disorder in this environment.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Dilip YP, Fernanda HS, William AF, Garuna K, Richard DB, Todd JM, Linda JF, Arielle NB, Jenifer RL, Wang LC, Witold DO, Anna MS, Katarzyna BK, Agnieszka KN, Elwira BP, Katarzyna MP, Magdalena MP, Anna BW, Rox RA (2015) Acne treatment based on selective photothermolysis of sebaceous follicles with topically delivered light absorbing gold microparticles. J Investig Dermatol 135(15):1727–1734
Adityan B, Kumari R, Thappa DM (2009) Scoring systems in acne vulgaris. Indian J Dermatol Venerology Leprol 75(3):323–326. doi:10.4103/0378-6323.51258
Goodman G (2006) Acne and acne scaring, the case for active and early intervention. Aust Fam Physician 35(7):503–504
Barnes LE, Levender MM, Fleischer AB, Feldman SR (2012) Quality of life measures for acne patients. Dermatol Clin 30(2):293–300. doi:10.1016/j.det.2011.11.001 Epub 2011 Dec 16
Srivastava S, Goyal P (2010) Novel biomaterials: decontamination of toxic metals from wastewater. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-11329-1
Harvey PJ, Handley HK, Taylor MP (2015) Identification of the sources of metal (lead) contamination in drinking waters in north-eastern Tasmania using lead isotopiccompositions. Environ Sci Pollut Res 4(7):88–89
Hogan CM (2010) Heavy metal. In: Monosson E, Cleveland C (eds) Encyclopedia of earth. National Council for Science and the Environment, Washington DC, pp. 6–10
Ikaraoha CI, Oforofuo IAO, Anetor JI, Okogbo FO, Okusanya BO, Okogbenin SA, Alonge TO, Mbadiwe NC (2012) Blood lead, calcium and phosphorus in women with pre-eclampsia in Edo State, Nigeria. Arch Environ Occup Health 67(3):163–169
Prashanth L, Kattapagari KK, Chitturi RT, Baddam VR, Prasad LK (2015) A review on role of essential trace elements in health and disease. J Dr. NTR Univ Health Sci 4(2):75–85
Carl AB, Edward RA, David EB (2013) toxic metals. In: 6th(ed) Vitamins and trace elements. Tietz Fundamentals of clinical chemistry. Saunders, Westline, Misouri, pp 501–607
Harris ED (2001) Copper homeostasis: the role of cellular transporters. Nutr Rev 59(9):281–285
Araya M, Pizarro F, Olivares M, Arredondo M, Gozalez M (2006) Understanding copper homeostasis in humans and copper effects on health. Biol Res 39(1):181–187
Broadley MR, White PJ, Hammond JP, Zelko I, Lux A (2007) Zinc in plants. New Pathol 17(3):677
Vora S, Ovhal A, Jerajani H (2008) Correlation of facial sebum to sebum insulin-like growth factor-1 in patients with acne. Br J Dermatol 159(4):990–991. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2133.2008.08764.x
Dreno B, Foulc P, Reynaud A, Moyse D, Habert H, Richet H (2005) Effect of zinc gluconate on propionibacterium acnes resistance to erythromycin in patients with inflammatory acne: in vitro and in vivo study. Eur J Dermatol 15(13):152–155
Nasiri S, Ghalamkarpour F, Yousefi M, Sadighha A (2009) Serum zinc levels in Iranian patients with acne. Clin Exp Dermatol 34(7):446. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2230.2009.03486.x
Mishra KP (2009) Lead exposure and its impact on immune system: a review. Toxicol in Vitro 23(6):969–972. doi:10.1016/j.tiv.2009.06.014
Flora JS (2009) Structural, chemical and biological aspects of antioxidant for strategies against metals and metalloid exposure. Oxidative Med Cell Longev 2(4):191–206. doi:10.4161/oxim.2.4.9112
Philippe G, Philip JL (2014) Neurobehavioural effects of developmental toxicity. Lancet Neurol 13(3):330–338. doi:10.1016/S1474-4422(13)70278-3
Ikaraoha CI, Taylor GOL, Anetor JI, Onuegbu JA (2004) Pattern of skin surface lipids in some south western Nigerians with acne vulgaries. West Afr J Med 23(1):65–68
Dawson AL, Dellavalle RP (2013) Acne vulgaris. Br Med J 346(5):f2634. doi:10.1136/bmj.f2634. PMID 23657180
Welz B, Sperling M (1985) Atomic absorption spectrometry. Engl transl by Christopher Skegg. 2nd comp. Rev. ed. Wiley, Weinheim, Germany 7-8:167–169
Ikaraoha CI, Taylor GOL, Anetor JI, Igwe CU, Ukaegbu QO, Nwobu GO, Mokogwu ATH (2005) Demographic features, beliefs and socio-psychological impact of acne vulgaris among its sufferers in two towns in Nigeria. Online J Health Allied Sci 1:3
Tandon SK, Singh S, Prasad S, Khandekar K, Dwivedi VK, Chatterjee M, Mathur N (2003) Reversal of cadmium induced oxidative stress by chelating age, antioxidant or their combination in rat. Toxicol Lett 14:211–217
Samy AH, Omnia MA, Ahmad MS (2014) Protective effects of alpha-lipoic acid and melatonin against cadmium-induced oxidative stress in erythrocytes of rats. J Pharmacol Toxicol 9:1–24. doi:10.3823/jpt.2014
Flora SJ, Mittal M, Mehta A (2008) Heavy metals induced oxidative stress and its possible reversal by chelation therapy. Indian J Med Res 128(4):501–523
Basak PY, Gluteckin F, Kilinc I (2001) The role of the oxidative defence system in papulopustular acne. J Dermatol 28(3):123–127
Bowe WP, Logan AC (2010) Clinical implications of lipid peroxidation in acne vulgaris: old wine in new bottles. Lipid Health Dis 9:141. doi:10.1186/1476-511X-9-141
Taylor SC, Cook-Bolden F, Rahman Z (2014) Poisoning more than skin rashes/dry skin. J Am Acad Dermatol 46(2):98–106
Plewig G, Kligman AM (1993) Acne and rosacea. 2nd comp . Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, p. 33Rev. ed
Saleh BO, Anbar ZN, Majid AY (2013) Role of some trace elements in pathogenesis and severity of acne vulgaris in Iraqi male patients. J Clin Exp Dermatol Res 46(2):98–106
Yesim K, Esra A, Murat E, Bulent C, Mehmet AG (2007) Zinc levels in patients with acne vulgaris. J Turk Acad Dermatol 1(3):71–302
Igic PG, Lee E, Harper W, Roach KW (2002) Toxic effects associated with consumption of zinc. Mayo Clin Proced 77(7):713–716
Wong WY, Flik G, Groenen PM, Swinkels DW, Thomas CM, et al. (2001) The impact of calcium, magnesium, zinc, and copper in blood and seminal plasma on semen parameters in men. Reprod Toxicol 15(2):131–136
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Ethical Approval
All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.
Disclosures
None.
Conflict of Interest
The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.
Sources of Funding
There was no grant support for this study.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ikaraoha, C., Mbadiwe, N., Anyanwu, C. et al. The Role of Blood Lead, Cadmium, Zinc and Copper in Development and Severity of Acne Vulgaris in a Nigerian Population. Biol Trace Elem Res 176, 251–257 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-016-0839-4
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-016-0839-4