Assessment of serum macro and trace element homeostasis and the complexity of inter-element relations in bipolar mood disorders

BackgroundBipolar disorders are complex neuropsychiatric in nature and are clinically classified as Type I, Type II, and Type V. The etiological factors include environmental–genetic inter-relations. Trace metals play a significant role in neurological disorders. There is very limited information on the role of macro and trace elements in bipolar disorders.MethodsTrace elements namely Na, K, S, Ca, Mg, P, Cu, Fe, Zn, Mn and Al were analyzed in serum samples of 3 bipolar types: bipolar I, bipolar II and bipolar V with a control group using inductively coupled plasma–atomic emission spectrometry (ICP–AES). The patients were assessed as per the standard diagnostic criteria and classified into the bipolar type I, II hypomanic, II depressives and V.ResultsIn bipolar I (mania), Na, K, P, Cu, Al and Mn were increased significantly (p < 0.001). In bipolar II hypomania, Na, S, Al and Mn were increased significantly (p < 0.02), while in bipolar II depression, Na, K, Cu and Al were increased (p < 0.001). In bipolar V, Na, Mg, P, Cu, and Al were increased significantly (p < 0.002), though S (p < 0.00001), Fe (p < 0.002) and Zn (p < 0.004) were decreased in all 3 bipolar groups.ConclusionsThere is a disturbance in the charge distribution and element–element interdependency in bipolar serum when compared to controls. These results suggest that there is a definite imbalance in macro and trace element homeostasis as evidenced by element inter-relationships in serum samples of bipolar groups when compared to controls.