**4. Conclusions**

36 Aneurysm

metallothionein [63].

Type of aneurysm

AAA

CA

(CA) and in the control groups.

of Cd in examined patients.

elements in the body [60,64].

mushrooms [56].

in specific organs. Cd impairs carbohydrate metabolism, insulin secretion, inhibits the activity of oxidases and induces lipid peroxidation. Chronic exposure to Cd deteriorates kidney function, demineralization of bone, nervous system disorders, immune, and hyperglycemia [59,61,62]. Prolonged exposure to Cd can cause cardiovascular diseases. It is known that Cd can affect the formation of hypertension, which is probably caused by insufficient oxygen renin release from the kidney, which accumulate large amounts of

Concentration of Pb

*Blood (µg/L)* 

33.25 ± 11.1 27.96 ± 20.3 *Aortic wall (ng/g)* 

137.16 ± 134.2 162.65 ± 157.2

*Blood (µg/L)* 

29.63 ± 22.75 48.98 ± 37.36 **↑**

**Table 5.** Concentration of Pb in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), cerebral aneurysm

The average blood Cd concentrations in AAA and CA patients were similar to the control groups. There was also no significant differences in content of Cd between aortic wall with aneurysm and normal aorta - Table 6 [60,64]. Cigarette smoking did not influence on content

Food is one of the sources of exposure to Cd, in addition to environmental and occupational exposure. High content of Cd may contain offal, fish and seafood and vegetable products from the areas contaminated with this element, such as leafy and root vegetables and

The frequent consumption of boiled and raw vegetables, and meat products contributed to the increase concentration of Cd, while frequent consumption of grits and rice decreased its level in the patients with aneurysms. Various species of grits and rice, especially brown rice, due to its high content of essential minerals can protect against the accumulation of toxic

(n =22)

(n =17)

(n =22)

SD – standard deviation, p – significance level, n – number of samples

(average ± SD) p

2. Examined group (n =49)

4. With aneurysm (n =40)

6. Examined group (n =64)

p1/2 = 0.327 1. Control group

p3/4 = 0.562 3. Without aneurysm

**p5/6 < 0.03** 5. Control group

Serum Zn concentration in patients with AAA and CA is significantly decreased. In turn, serum concentration of Cu in patients with AAA is increased, but decreased in the case of CA. On the other hand, serum concentration of Se in patients with AAA is lower when compared to healthy people, but does not change in the CA. The content of Mg is decreased only in the aortic wall with aneurysm, but its concentration in serum does not change in both types of aneurysms. The concentration of Pb is only increased in the blood of people with CA, while the concentration of Cd in the blood is comparable to healthy people in both types of aneurysms.

Dietary habits (frequency of consumption of each group of food products) may affect directly or indirectly on the content of the Mg, Cu, Zn, Se, Pb and Cd in people with AAA and CA.

Our results may help to explain the role of mineral components in case of aneurysms and be important in the prevention of this diseases.
