DIFFERENCES IN THE CONCENTRATION OF SELECTED MICRO- AND MACRONUTRIENTS IN PATIENTS WITH INTERVERTEBRAL DISC DEGENERATION.

Introduction: It effectively communicates the importance of evaluating changes in the concentration profiles of micronutrients and macronutrients in the intervertebral disc (IVD) in the context of osteoarthritis for identifying enzymes and metabolites involved in the degenerative process of the IVD. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate changes in the concentrations of copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), sodium (na), potassium (K), phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) in the degenerative process of the lumbar/sacral (L/S) IVD segment. Material and methods: The study group comprised 180 patients scheduled for microdiscectomy due to degenerative L/S IVD segments. Additionally, 90 individuals from the Caucasian Council were included in the control group, with post-mortem card collection from the L/S section of the circle. Results: Chemical analysis revealed significantly higher zinc (Zn) concentrations in study group samples compared to control samples (32.95 mg/kg DM ±21.55 mg/kg DM vs. 21.26 mg/kg DM ±13.86 mg/kg DM). Phosphorus (P) levels were also significantly higher in study group samples (4968.45 mg/kg DM ±5469.92 mg/kg DM vs. 1543.80 mg/kg DM ±1332.49 mg/kg DM), as well as calcium (Ca) (6012.25 mg/kg DM ±13884.34 mg/kg DM vs. 1451.45 mg/kg DM ±722.63 mg/kg DM). One-way AnOVA analysis indicated that the changes in iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), sodium (na), and magnesium (Mg) significantly correlated with the degree of IVD degeneration. Conclusions: The altered profiles of zinc (Zn), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), and phosphorus (P) concentrations characterize the degenerative process of the L/S IVD segment. Assessing changes in iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), sodium (na), and magnesium (Mg) levels may aid in evaluating the progression of degenerative changes in the L/S IVD segment. However, micro- and macronutrient variations did not significantly correlate with the severity of pain in the L/S segment of the spine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]