Background: Heavy metal storage and essential elements deficiency account as the important problems in the dialysis patients. Geological and folklore diversity in different ethnic groups around the country may impact the heavy metals poisoning or trace elements deficiency. The aim of this study was to compare the blood concentrations of 5 trace elements between dialysis patients and their matched normal control volunteers.

Materials and Methods: This study was performed on 33 dialysis patients (selected from a university hospital in Ahwaz) and 33 normal volunteers. All trace elements were assayed in serum samples except Lead (whole blood) using atomic absorption spectroscopy. Data were analyzed and compared.

Results: the mean age of subjects (35 male and 31 female) were not significantly different (matched populations). Trace element concentrations in the case and control groups for Zinc was 86.35±12.9 and 80.8±11.7 (P=0.075), Copper 75.038±16.47 and 69.84±12.99 (P=0.020), Selenium 10.71±1.49 and 10.15±1.17 (P=0.098), Aluminium 0.58±0.25 and 0.34±0.24 (P=0.000), Magnesium 0.328±0.06 and 0.207±0.03 (P=0.000) and for Lead 2.714±0.64 and 1.67±0.68 (P=0.000) (µg/dl for all), respectively. Lead quantities were higher than the allowable range in the dialysis patients.

Conclusion: Dialysis patients had higher concentrations of Magnesium, Aluminium and Lead in comparison with the normal controls. Furthermore, Aluminium poisoning should be avoided in such patients because of the mean serum Aluminum levels is close to the high normal range.