Sodium, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Copper, and Zinc Composition of Erythrocytes in Vitamin B12 Deficiency and Iron Deficiency*

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Abstract
The levels of Na, K, Ca, Mg, Cu and Zn were determined in the erythrocytes of 10 patients with untreated pernicious anemia and in 8 patients with iron deficiency anemia. In vitamin B12 deficiency the average amount of each mineral constituent in the cell was increased. The average amount of Na, Mg and Zn was increased per cubic micron of cell, per microliter of cell water and per micromole of hemoglobin but only Zn was raised in all of the subjects. The mean increase in K per cell was slightly greater than the mean increase in cell volume and it was accompanied by a similar increase in cell water. The mean increase in Ca and Cu was proportional to the increase in cell volume. In iron deficiency the average amount of Na, K, Mg, Cu and Zn in the cell was decreased, The diminution in Na, Mg, Cu and Zn was proportional to the decrease in cell volume. The decrease in K/cell was slightly less than the decrease in cell volume and it was accompanied by a similar change in cell water. Erythrocyte Ca was increased above the normal range in 4 of 8 patients with iron deficiency in whom analysis on packed cells was corrected for Ca in trapped plasma using a composite calibration curve and in 9 of 11 patients in whom trapped plasma correction was made with I131-labelled serum albumin.