Changes in essential and trace elements content in degenerating human intervertebral discs do not correspond to patients’ clinical status.

Aim: To date, there has been no paper considering the disc degeneration process in respect of the content of essential and trace elements in degenerating discs tissue, clinical status of patients, and imaging analysis. Concentration of essential and trace elements in disc tissue may be a consequence of both environmental and genetic factors. The study aims to analyse and assess the contents of essential and trace elements in intervertebral discs. Patients and methods: The material of 19 intervertebral discs was obtained from 17 patients during lumbar discectomy. Control was 9 healthy discs obtained from organ donors. Atomic absorption spectrometry was used to assess levels of Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, Zn, Na, Mg, K, Ca, and P in the tis sue, as well as dry weight (d.w.) of the tis sue. Results: All 10 essential and trace elements were detected in all samples. A significant increase of Ca, Mg, Fe, and P, and decrease of Cu and K in operated discs was found; the remaining changes between unhealthy and healthy discs were not significant. There were no age/elements, Pfirrmann grade/elements, or Modic grade changes/elements cor relations. A significant positive cor relation was found between Mg and Zn, K and Fe, Ca and Zn, Ca and Mg, P and Zn, P and Mg, and P and Ca. A negative cor relation was only indicated between age and Na. Ca levels were higher in the degenerating disc group than in the healthy group. Conclusion: A lack of cor relation between the Ca content and the stage of intervertebral disc degeneration as well as the age of patients in the degenerating disc group is an unexpected result.