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Abstract

Abstract


Blood copper, zinc, magnesium and lead levels were determined by atomic absorption spectros­copy for 15 males and 16 females suffering from depression, 6 males and 1 female with mental retardation and 3 males and 4 females with seizure disorders. They were all under no medication and belonged to low income groups. No difference in copper levels was found between the sexes in any of the groups. The levels in all the groups were significantly higherthan in the normals. In depressives, males had significantly higher zinc levels than females and only female depressives had significantly different (lower) levels from normals. In both depressives and normals, males had higher magnesium levels than females but no group of patients had significantly different levels from normals. Lead levels were significantly higher in female depressives and for those with seizure disorders than for controls. At least one metal abnormality was found in 21(67.7%) depressive, 5 (71.4%) of those with mental retardation and 6 (85.7%) with seizure disorders