Comparison of serum calcium, copper and iron levels in serum samples from gallstone patients and control subjects

Objective: Present study was designed to investigate the levels of calcium, copper and iron in the serum samples of gallstone patients and control subjects with no personal or family history of gallstones.Methodology: Sera of 109 gallstone patients and 100 control subjects were obtained during January 2010 to November 2010 from Memon Charitable Hospital, Hyderabad. The serum calcium, copper and iron concentrations were determined by Hitachi double beam atomic absorption spectrophotometer 180 - 50.Results: Comparison of serum calcium, copper, and iron levels between gallstone patients and control subjects showed that all these variables were significantly (p 0.01) higher in gallstone patients. However, no significant difference (p 0.01) was found when mean serum concentrations for these variables were compared between male and female gallstone patients, between female gallstone patients of up to 45 and over 45 years age and between female gallstone patients having up to 3 and more than 3 children.Conclusions: The higher levels of calcium, copper and iron in blood samples of gallstone patients compared to controls suggest that these metals do play a contributory role in the pathogenesis of human gallstones