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Anthropogenic activity has disturbed the natural distribution and circulation of trace elements in the environment. This has led to increased background levels of numerous elements, causing global pollution. In this context, seabirds are relevant bioindicators of environmental contamination. This study focuses on the ecological factors that influence the concentrations of 14 trace elements in the blood of the chicks of three sympatric gull species from the French coast of the English Channel. Between 2015 and 2017, 174 birds were sampled in the industrialised Seine Estuary (in the city of Le Havre and on Ratier Island) and in the remote Chausey Islands, 200 km to the west. We also considered the Se:Hg molar ratio using Hg concentrations in those birds. Ag and V concentrations were below the quantification limit in all cases, while the fraction of non-quantified samples was higher than 30 % for Cd, Cr and Ni. Among the elements quantified in the samples, the lowest concentrations were noted for Co and the highest for Fe, building the following order: Co < Cd < Ni < Mn ≤ Pb < Cr < Hg < Cu < Se < As < Zn < Fe. No unanimous scheme of concentrations among elements, species and sites existed. Similarly, different models were fitted and different factors were significant for different species and elements. We observed the biomagnification of As and the biodilution of Pb. Pb concentrations were also highest in the industrial site in the city of Le Havre. Despite the high proportion of non-quantified samples for Cd, Cr and Ni, we continued to notice higher concentrations in the marine environment of the Chausey Islands. Concentrations of some elements clearly revealed habitat dependence. In some cases the Se:Hg molar ratio was lower than 4, a threshold for diminishing Hg toxicity by Se., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: While some metals have been reported as carcinogens or potential carcinogens, only few modern-standard datasets including a large number of elements are available. The present analysis established a first trace elements spectrum by relating the concentration of metals and trace elements in the serum of sarcoma patients with survival data., Methods: Patients with sarcoma and controls were retrospectively selected from the International Sarcoma Kindred Study database (ISKS). As part of the ISKS study, blood samples were prospectively collected at the Leon Bérard Cancer Center from February 2012 to July 2019. Stable specimens and copper isotopes ( 65 Cu/ 63 Cu) were analyzed using Triple Quadrupole Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS) and the Multicollector MC-ICP-MS Nu Plasma HR 500. Wilcoxon rank sum test, log-rank test, and multivariate Cox regression models were used for statistics., Results: In total, 151 patients and 59 healthy controls were included. At the time of blood sample collection, 62% of patients had locally advanced or metastatic disease. Copper (Cu), copper/zinc (Cu/Zn) and potassium/rubidium (K/Rb) ratio were significantly higher in patients compared to controls and were also significantly higher in patients with advanced compared to early-stage sarcoma. Whereas S and Se were significantly correlated in patients, no correlation was observed in controls. Importantly, levels of K, Rb, Se, Fe, P, Si, S, δ 65 Cu, Cu, S/Se and Cu/Zn ratio were independently associated with overall survival., Conclusions: These results depict the metallomic spectrum in sarcoma and highlight substantial variation associated with survival, enhancing our understanding of sarcoma's biology., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

This systematic literature review examines the relationship between psoriasis and trace metals to elucidate the pathogenesis of this condition, and to explore their potential use as a new route of treatment. Searches were primarily conducted in three databases: PubMed, Scopus, and Embase. The initial search resulted in over 100 articles which were manually assessed by the researchers to determine relevancy. Articles were only included if they were published within the last 12 years and were held to the standards of Boote and Biele's Literature Review Rubric to assess their quality. Of the relevant articles included in this study, the following three elements were largely discussed: calcium, magnesium, and zinc. Although not a trace metal, the macromolecule, calcium, was found to regulate the differentiation and proliferation of cells involved in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Magnesium is thought to have an indirect relationship with psoriasis due to its role in Vitamin D absorption. Additionally, the zinc ion protects against oxidative stress, which is theorized as a mediator of the inflammatory response central to the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Many studies also investigated the serum levels of these elements to see if they were correlated with the severity of the condition. The serum levels of both calcium and zinc were found to have a negative correlation with the amount of surface area involved during a plaque psoriasis flare. These results indicate a potential benefit from evaluating the serum levels of these key modulators in patients. The lab values would indicate any deficiencies or imbalances, which can assist in a physician's ability to determine an individualized and targeted treatment course. Findings from this review consolidate the information currently available, and support the idea that psoriasis is influenced by trace metals. While there is still limited discussion on the evaluation of this relationship, the reviews findings demonstrate that additional comprehensive research would be warranted., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Illicit drug use has become a global issue, posing significant health, socioeconomic, and cultural risks. The study examined essential trace metals: selenium, zinc, and copper in blood concentrations, as well as in serum and scalp hair samples, from 240 male drug-abuse subjects/patients aged 18-45, categorized into three age groups. The study compared 45 healthy subjects of the same age group using an acid digestion method supported by a microwave oven during sample preparation. The technique of atomic absorption spectrometry was employed to identify essential and toxic elements, utilizing certified reference materials for accuracy. According to a recent study, plasma zinc and selenium concentrations in drug abusers are lower than those in referent subjects, potentially increasing vulnerability to infection due to poor nutritional status or other contaminants., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Isotretinoin is an effective treatment against acne vulgaris, but it also causes many side effects during and after the treatment. The relationship between the changes in the levels of plasma trace elements of patients with AV after 3 months of isotretinoin treatment and the side effects was investigated in the study. Plasma samples of 35 patients were collected before and after isotretinoin treatment. Samples were analyzed by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometer. After treatment, the levels of phosphorus, magnesium, and zinc in plasma increased statistically, while the level of potassium decreased (p < 0.05). The treatment had differing effects on zinc levels based on the gender of the individuals. With treatment, the levels of zinc in the plasma of men showed a greater increase compared to women (p = 7.3e-04). Additionally, the correlation matrix analysis revealed a strong correlation (R > 0.8) between magnesium and calcium. According to the study results, the change in phosphorus and potassium levels shows that isotretinoin affects kidney functions. The results suggest that phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, and zinc are associated with fatigue, dry skin and chapped lips, hair loss, and sebum secretion, respectively. Consequently, the study emphasizes the need for a comprehensive pre-treatment assessment, including monitoring of liver and kidney function as well as the levels of phosphorus and potassium in patients., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

In humans, 23 elements have been shown to have biological activity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the concentrations of iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), sodium (Na), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), phosphorus (P), and calcium (Ca) in the serum of patients diagnosed with lumbar degenerative stenosis when compared to the concentrations of those elements in the serum of healthy volunteers. The study group consisted of 60 patients who were diagnosed with degenerative stenosis of the lumbosacral spine and who qualified for hemilaminectomy. The control group included 60 healthy volunteers without degenerative spinal stenosis. The clinical specimens studied had sera collected from both groups. The quantitative analysis of the selected elements revealed statistically significant (p < 0.05) lower concentrations of Zn (740 ± 110 µg/L vs. 880 ± 160 µg/L) and Mg (22,091 ± 4256 µg/L vs. 24,100 ± 4210 µg/L) in the serum of the patients from the study group when compared to the controls. By contrast, K (16,230 µg/L ± 1210 µg/L vs. 13,210 µg/L ± 1060 µg/L) and Fe (141.87 µg/L ± 11.22 µg/L vs. 109.1 µg/L ± 26.43 µg/L) levels were significantly higher in the study group compared to the controls (p < 0.05). No statistically significant changes were detected in the concentrations of the assessed micronutrients and macronutrients in both sexes in either the study group, the control group, or those based on body mass index (p > 0.05). In the serum samples from the study group, the strongest correlations were noted between the concentrations. In the study group, we showed a significant relationship between the levels of Fe/Zn (r = 0.41), Fe/Na (r = 0.41), Fe/P (r = 0.55), Zn/P (r = 0.68), Zn/K (r = 0.48), Zn/Ca (r = 0.94), Mg/Ca (r = 0.79), and Na/K (r = 0.67). We showed that only Mg concentration varied statistically significantly with the severity of pain (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that the assessment of Fe, Zn, Mg, and K concentrations can be helpful in predicting the onset of degenerative changes in the spine., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Background/Objectives: Heavy metals are a group of metals and metalloids that have a relatively high density. They can cause toxicity even at very low levels. Trace elements are required by all living organisms to maintain their normal growth, metabolism, and development. Oral intake is the main route of exposure to both heavy metals and trace elements. Phenylketonuria (PKU) is the most common amino acid metabolic disorder, and the best known treatment for patients requiring treatment is a phenylalanine (Phe)-restricted diet. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the plasma heavy metal levels, sources of exposure, changes in these levels according to dietary regimen, and trace element levels and their correlations with heavy metals in PKU patients. Methods: The study was conducted between July 2022 and January 2024 on 105 patients aged 2-6 years diagnosed with PKU. Results: The percentage of Pb levels in individuals in the upper quartile increased by 3.47 times (95% CI = 1.07-11.29) in those who consumed canned foods and 7.29 times (95% CI = 1.21-44.03) in those who consumed spring water. The percentage of As levels in the upper tertile increased by a factor of 7.26 (95% CI = 2.09-25.28) in individuals under four years of age and 8.17 times (95% CI = 2.13-31.27) in canned food users. The odds of having blood Cd levels in the upper tertile were 0.09 (95% CI = 0.01-0.96) for those being breastfed for 6-11 months compared to 0-5 months. Zn levels were lower (93.0 vs. 83.6 µg/dL, p = 0.008) in patients on a Phe-restricted diet. Conclusions: The present study did not find a relationship between heavy metal exposure and the dietary treatment status of patients with PKU. Our findings indicate that canned food consumption is a significant contributing factor to heavy metal exposure in PKU patients. Furthermore, our findings revealed a relationship between age, perception of economic level, breastfeeding, kitchen equipment, and water usage and the levels of certain heavy metals.

Background: Anemia significantly contributes to the global disease burden, with its incidence potentially influenced by the trace metal content within the body., Objective: This study aims to examine the associations between trace metals and anemia risk, with a particular focus on investigating the potential mediating roles of iron status and inflammation in these associations., Methods: Five trace metals (Ni, Co, Mn, Se, and Mo) were examined in 1274 US adults, utilizing data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2017-2020. The individual and combined effects of these metals on anemia were assessed using logistic regression, quantile g-computation (QGC), and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR). A sex-stratified analysis was conducted to discern any gender-specific susceptibilities. Additionally, mediation analysis was employed to explore the potential mediating roles of iron status and inflammation in the associations between these metals and anemia., Results: Increased risks of anemia were positively associated with Co and Ni levels but negatively correlated with Se and Mn levels (all with p < 0.05). The trace metal mixture was negatively associated with anemia, with the highest weights of Co and Se in different directions in both the QGC and BKMR models. In the sex-specific analysis, we observed less pronounced protective effects from trace metals in females. Moreover, the mediating proportion of the iron status and inflammation in these relationships ranged from 10.29% to 58.18%., Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the trace element mixture was associated with decreased anemia risk, among which Se was a protective factor while Co was a risk factor, and females were more susceptible. The effects of these trace metals on anemia may be mediated by the iron status and inflammation.

Pregnant women and children are vulnerable to vitamin A deficiency (VAD), which is often compounded by concurrent deficiencies in other micronutrients, particularly iron and zinc, in developing countries. The study investigated the effects of early-life VAD on motor and cognitive development and trace mineral status in a mouse model. C57BL/6J dams were fed either a vitamin A-adequate (VR) or -deficient (VD) diet across two consecutive gestations and lactations. Offspring from both gestations (G1 and G2) continued the same diets until 6 or 9 weeks of age. Behavioral assays were conducted to evaluate motor coordination, grip strength, spatial cognition, and anxiety. Hepatic trace minerals were analyzed. A VD diet depleted hepatic retinoids and reduced plasma retinol across all ages and gestations. Retracted rear legs and abnormal gait were the most common clinical manifestations observed in VD offspring from both gestations at 9 weeks. Poor performance on the Rotarod test further confirmed their motor dysfunction. VAD didn't affect hemoglobin levels and had no consistent effect on hepatic trace mineral concentrations. These findings highlight the critical role of vitamin A in motor development. There was no clear evidence that VAD alters the risk of iron deficiency anemia or trace minerals.

Arsenic (As) is a widespread environmental metalloid and human carcinogen, and its exposure is associated with a wide range of toxic effects, leading to serious health hazards. As poisoning is a complex systemic multi-organ and multi-system damage disease. In this study, a rat model of As poisoning was established to investigate the levels of trace elements in the blood of rats and sex differences in the effect of As on every trace elements in rat blood. Twenty 6-week-old SD (Sprague Dawley) rats were randomly divided into the control group and the As-exposed group. After 3 months, the contents of 19 elements including As in the blood were detected in these two groups by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). As levels in the blood of As-exposed rats were significantly higher than those in the control group, with increased levels of Rb, Sr, Cs and Ce, and decreased levels of Pd. As showed a significant positive correlation with Rb. There were significant sex differences in blood Se, Pd, Eu, Dy, Ho, and Au levels in the As-exposed group. The results showed that As exposure can lead to an increase of As content in blood and an imbalance of some elements. There were sex differences in the concentration and the correlation between elements of some elements. Elemental imbalances may affect the toxic effects of As and play a synergistic or antagonistic role in As toxicity., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

The association between the serum essential metal elements (magnesium, iron, copper, zinc, and calcium) and thyroid nodules is still inconsistent. The current study aims to investigate the relationship of metal elements with thyroid nodules and their malignant tendency. A total of 6480 Chinese euthyroid adults were included in our study. We collect basic information through questionnaires and medical checkups. We diagnose thyroid nodules by ultrasound and detect serum trace metal concentrations by using an automatic biochemical analyzer. Binary and multinomial logistic regressions were used to investigate the associations. As a result, we found that serum copper concentrations were positively associated with thyroid nodules in the second, third, and fourth quartiles, compared to the first quartile (P = 0.024, P = 0.016, P = 0.032) in women and P for trend is 0.038. There is a significant sex-specific association between copper concentrations and thyroid nodules (P for interaction = 0.009). The results of the multinomial logistic regression analyses indicate high serum calcium and magnesium concentrations emerged as consistent risk factors for thyroid nodules in both genders, whereas low zinc was a sex-specific factor. We also observed significant sex interactions in the relationships of magnesium (P for interaction = 0.043) with thyroid nodules with malignant tendency among participants with thyroid nodules. In conclusion, our study suggests that gender is an important factor when studying the association between serum metals and thyroid nodules. The imbalance of selected metal elements (calcium, copper, zinc, and magnesium) may relate to thyroid nodules and their malignant tendency, and future prospective studies are needed to further confirm the associations., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), a fatal disease prevalent in more than 70 countries, poses significant health challenges, particularly in poor communities with limited access to healthcare. Vitamins and trace elements play a crucial role in immune function and may influence susceptibility to VL. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the differences in serum vitamin and trace element levels in VL patients compared to healthy individuals. We conducted an extensive search of databases (PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar) to identify potentially eligible articles published from inception to June 2023. Data extraction and quality assessment were carried out by two reviewers independently. RevMan software (version 5.4) was used for analysis. Standardized mean difference (SMD) with a confidence interval (CI) of 95% was used to summarize the findings. Ten studies comprising 546 VL patients and 535 controls were included in our study. The findings revealed significantly reduced serum retinol levels in VL patients in comparison to controls (SMD: - 0.67; 95% CI: [- 1.05, - 0.28]; p = 0.0008). Serum zinc levels were also substantially lower in VL patients, regardless of controls recruited from endemic (SMD: - 2.65; 95% CI: [- 3.86, - 1.44]; p < 0.0001) or non-endemic regions (SMD: - 1.99; 95% CI: [- 3.02, - 0.96]; p < 0.0002). However, VL patients exhibited significantly increased serum copper levels compared to controls (SMD: 2.51; 95% CI: [0.70, 4.32]; p = 0.007). Patients with VL had lower serum levels of zinc and retinol and higher levels of copper, indicating a possible role of these micronutrients in influencing VL susceptibility and progression., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Trace elements (TEs) play a crucial role in metabolism through their biochemical and catalytic effects, and alterations in their levels have been observed in various malignancies. Given that chemotherapy is a common treatment for cancer, it is important to understand how it may affect the levels of TEs in the body. By investigating changes in TEs levels before and after chemotherapy, this study aims to provide insights into the potential impact of chemotherapy on TEs levels in cancer patients. In the present study, analyses were performed on the serum level of some elements including Zn, Cu, Cd, and Se in 69 patients with leukemia, lymphoma, prostate and breast cancers before and after three courses of chemotherapy. The serum TEs were measured by atomic absorption spectroscopy. The serum Zn levels in patients with leukemia, lymphoma, and breast cancer significantly decreased after chemotherapy (P < 0.05). Significant reductions were also observed in the post-chemotherapy serum level of Cd in patients with prostate (P = 0.020) and breast cancer (P = 0.013). Moreover, the Se serum level significantly decreased after chemotherapy compared to before it in the breast cancer patients (P < 0.001). In contrast, the serum level of Cu was higher before than after chemotherapy in all the patients, but no significant difference was found (P > 0.05). The results show that chemotherapy can alter the level of TEs. The assessment of TEs in cancer patients may provide information about the side effects of chemotherapy as well as the use of appropriate strategies to better manage the clinical conditions of patients., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Objective: To establish a method for the simultaneous determination of 22 elements, including beryllium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, iron, calcium, magnesium, barium, cobalt, cadmium, copper, zinc, arsenic, selenium, titanium, strontium, nickel, molybdenum, tin, antimony, thallium and lead, in whole blood by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) . Methods: In September 2023, the analysis conditions were determined by optimizing the detection mode of the instrument, the pretreatment mode and the dilution factor of the samples, etc. Whole blood samples were diluted with a mixture of 0.1% nitric acid and 0.05% triton X-100, and centrifuged at 2000 r/min by high-speed centrifuge for 2 min. The supernatant was taken into inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer to determine the content of 22 elements, and the detection limit and precision of the method were analyzed. Results: The 22 elements had a good linear relationship in their respective measurement ranges ( r =0.9991-0.9999), the detection limit ranged from 0.003 μg/L to 0.012 mg/L. The intra-batch precision ranged from 0.5% to 7.2%, the inter-batch precision ranged from 0.4% to 9.4%, and the average recoveries ranged from 80.6% to 114.9%. Conclusion: ICP-MS method has a good effect on the determination of 22 elements in whole blood. The method is fast and simple, and can be used for clinical detection of multiple elements in whole blood.

Background: The consequences of trace element exposure on cognitive function in elderly adults have been recognized as primarily attributed to the inflammatory response. It is noteworthy that diet can either exacerbate or reduce the inflammatory response. Despite this, there have been limited studies about the effects of diet on the relationship between trace element exposure and cognitive function., Methods: A cross-sectional study utilized data from the 2011-2014 NHANES survey to explore the association between trace element exposure and cognitive function in elderly adults. The study enrolled 1726 participants, and generalized linear regression model (GLM), Bayesian kernel machine regression model (BKMR), weighted quantile sum regression (WQS), and quantile g-computation regression analysis (Qg-comp) were conducted to assess the impact of five trace elements (lead, cadmium, mercury, manganese, and selenium) in blood on cognitive function under the anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory diet., Results: The GLM analysis showed a positive correlation between selenium (Se) and both the instant recall test (IRT) and digit symbol substitution test (DSST) (β = 2.06, 95% CI: 0.70 ~ 3.41; and β = 6.41, 95% CI: 2.35 ~ 10.46, respectively). In contrast, cadmium (Cd) was negatively associated with DSST (β = -1.17, 95% CI: -2.13~ -0.22), and lead (Pb) was negatively associated with IRT (β = -0.47, 95% CI: -0.82~ -0.11). For the animal fluency test (AFT), the highest quartile of manganese (Mn) was negatively associated with the lowest quartile (β = -0.72, 95% CI: -1.34~-0.10), while mercury (Hg) showed no significant associations with cognitive function tests. Subgroup analysis revealed the effects of Cd on IRT and DSST and Se on DSST under the pro-inflammatory diet. Furthermore, The BKMR analysis showed an inverted U-shaped curve with the negative impact of trace element mixtures and DSST and a linearly negative trend with IRT in the pro-inflammatory diet. Among them, Cd was emphasized as the most potent risk factor, and Se was the most vital protective factor for IRT and DSST in WQS and Qg-comp analysis., Conclusions: The study suggests that a high-quality diet might alleviate the adverse effects of Cd on IRT and DSST. High Se levels were also associated with better IRT and DSST scores in the pro-inflammatory diet. These findings provide valuable insights into the connection between diet, trace element exposure, and cognitive function in elderly adults., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: An appropriate diet is the basis for the treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2DM). However, there are no strict recommendations regarding the content of micronutrients and their modifications in the presence of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Therefore, we decided to investigate whether T2DM patients, including those with CKD, have different levels of chromium, nickel, cobalt, magnesium, and zinc in various blood elements compared to healthy individuals., Methods: We divided our subjects into three groups: the control group (individuals without T2DM and proper renal function), those with T2DM and proper renal function, and those with T2DM and GFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m 2 ., Results: We observed higher levels of chromium in all materials examined in patients with T2DM and impaired renal function. Both study groups found higher levels of nickel in samples of whole blood and red blood cells. Patients with T2DM and proper renal function had higher levels of serum manganese. Both study groups had lower levels of serum zinc. We observed higher levels of chromium in all materials examined in patients with T2DM and impaired renal function. Both study groups found higher levels of nickel in samples of whole blood and red blood cells. Patients with T2DM and proper renal function had higher levels of serum manganese. Both study groups had lower levels of serum zinc., Conclusions: In order to ensure effective care for patients with T2DM, it is necessary to improve the standard diet, including the content of micronutrients and their modification in patients with concomitant CKD.

Background: Theileriosis is a tick-borne disease caused by protozoon species in the Theileria genus of the Theileriidae family. The biochemical changes induced by infection are considered to be an important understanding of the pathophysiology of caprine theileriosis. In this study, it was aimed to determine oxidative stress, thyroid hormones, trace elements, and biochemical parameters in theileriosis infection., Materials and Methods: A sample of 14 goat was used for this purpose, of which 7 were healthy and 7 were infected with Theileria ovis. Theileria infection was diagnosed from the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Sera from blood samples was tested for total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total oxidant capacity (TOC), oxidative stress index (OSI), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), total protein, albumin, triglyceride, cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), urea, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), cobalt (Co), manganese (Mn), selenium (Se), iron (Fe)., Result: TOC, OSI, AST, ALT and GGT values were higher in the patient group than in the healthy group (P < 0.05). On the other hand, there were decreases in TAC, T3, T4, total protein, albumin, creatinine, Cu, Zn, Se, and Co values (P < 0.05). However, there was not found to be a statistical difference between the healthy and patient groups in terms of triglyceride, cholesterol, HDL, LDL, urea, BUN, Mn, and Fe values (P > 0.05)., Conclusions: It can be stated that oxidative stress is a complication of caprine theileriosis and it may be accompanied with hypothyroidism and deficits in trace minerals., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

The objective of the present study was to evaluate serum and hair trace element and mineral levels in women with osteoporosis, as well as to estimate the impact of menopausal status on the profile of trace element and mineral status in women with osteoporosis. 207 women with diagnosed osteoporosis 22-85 years-of-age, and 197 healthy women of the respective age participated in the present study. Analysis of the levels of mineral and trace element in hair and serum samples was performed by inductively-coupled plasma mass-spectrometry (ICP-MS). Women with osteoporosis were characterized by significantly lower hair Ca, Mg, Co, I, Li, and Mn levels, as well as serum Ca, Mg, Co, Fe, V, and Zn concentrations compared to women in the control group. After additional grouping according to menopausal status, the lowest hair Ca and Mg content was observed in postmenopausal osteoporotic women, whereas serum Ca and Mg concentrations were the lowest in premenopausal osteoporotic women. Hair Co, Mn, and Zn levels in postmenopausal osteoporotic women were lower than in healthy postmenopausal women. The lowest circulating Zn levels were observed in osteoporotic postmenopausal women. Taken together, decreased hair and serum levels in osteoporotic women are indicative of increased risk of Ca, Mg, Co, and Zn deficiency in women with osteoporosis. In turn, alterations in hair trace element and mineral levels in osteoporosis are more profound in postmenopausal women. Hypothetically, improvement in trace element and mineral metabolism especially in postmenopausal women may be considered as a potential strategy for mitigating osteoporosis., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Bariatric surgery (BS) may decrease the risk of these obesity-related complications; however, due to its effect on nutrient intake and absorption, it can also have adverse consequences on maternal and foetal health. The aim of this study is to describe the evolution of electrolytes and trace elements serum levels throughout pregnancy after BS, according to the surgical technique and to evaluate the effect of nutritional deficiencies on the risk of maternal-foetal complications., Methods: This is a retrospective observational study of the clinical evolution and maternal-foetal complications in a group of women with pregnancies that occurred after BS. Clinical evolution during pregnancy, body weight, and plasma electrolytes, vitamins, and trace elements, as well as their influence on maternal-foetal outcomes were evaluated. Composite neonatal variable (CNV) was defined to evaluate unfavourable foetal outcome. Published reference values for micronutrients during pregnancy have been used., Results: The study includes data on 164 singleton pregnancies in 91 women. A hundred and twenty-seven pregnancies got to full term. The average birth weight was 2966 (546) g., 26.8% < P10 and 13.8% < P3 of a reference population. New-born of gestations after malabsorptive bariatric surgery had a higher risk of having a percentile of birth weight < P3. Plasma electrolytes, trace elements and vitamins throughout pregnancy showed differences depending on the surgical technique, with lower haemoglobin, ferritin, calcium, zinc, copper, vitamin A and vitamin E in the malabsorptive techniques. A high percentage of deficiency was observed, especially in the third trimester (Hb < 11 g/dl: 31.8%; ferritin < 30 mg/ml: 85.7%; zinc < 50 μg/dl: 32.4%, vitamin D < 30 ng/ml: 75.5% and < 20 ng/ml: 53.3%). A decreased plasma copper in the first trimester or zinc in the third trimester were associated with a lower percentile of new-born birth weight. A higher risk of CNV was observed in predominant malabsorptive BS and in pregnancies that had presented at least one vitamin D level lower than 20 ng/ml throughout pregnancy (30.4% vs. 7.1%, p=0.018)., Conclusions: Trace elements and vitamin deficiencies are common in pregnant women after bariatric surgery, especially of iron, zinc, and vitamin D. These deficiencies might negatively affect foetal development. Further studies are needed to better define the role of micronutrients in maternal-foetal health after bariatric surgery., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None, (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

Background: Older adults have a progressive deficiency in the ability to detoxify chemical elements and are susceptible to dyslipidemia and changes in glycemic control. The objective was to evaluate the association of the mixture of essential and toxic elements in the plasma of institutionalized older adults and test the associations with lipid profile variables and glycemic control., Methods: Data were obtained from 149 Brazilian older adults aged ≥60 living in nursing homes (NH) in Natal, Brazil. The concentrations of sixteen chemical elements in plasma and lipid profile parameters and glycemic control of 149 institutionalized older adults were measured. Bayesian kernel machine regression was used to estimate the associations of the mixture of chemical elements with total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL-c), low-density lipoprotein (LDL-c), triglycerides (TG), fasting glucose, and glycated hemoglobin., Results: Non-linear responses to exposure were observed for iron (Fe) about TC, LDL-c, and TG, and for barium (Ba) and copper (Cu) about TG. The concentration of the mixture of chemical elements below the 35th percentile was associated with a decrease in TC. Fe was the main element in the effect of the mixture associated with TC., Conclusions: The lower concentrations of the mixture of chemical elements in plasma had a protective effect on the increase in TC, with Fe being the main element. Considering the results, the levels of essential and toxic elements in the plasma of older adults require extensive screening, mainly to prevent dyslipidemia and monitor clinical interventions., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

Background: It is widely known that sex differences have a significant impact on patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). This study aims to evaluate the sex-related connection between serum trace elements and changes in neurometabolism in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) of MDD patients., Methods: 109 untreated MDD patients and 59 healthy controls underwent proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ( 1 H-MRS) under resting conditions. We measured metabolic ratios in the ACC from both sides. Additionally, venous blood samples were taken from all participants to detect calcium (Ca), phosphorus, magnesium (Mg), copper (Cu), ceruloplasmin (CER), zinc (Zn), and iron (Fe) levels. We performed association and interaction analyses to explore the connections between the disease and gender., Results: In individuals with MDD, the Cu/Zn ratio increased, while the levels of Mg, CER, Zn and Fe decreased. Male MDD patients had lower Cu levels, while female patients had an increased Cu/Zn ratio. We observed significant gender differences in Cu, CER and the Cu/Zn ratio in MDD. Male patients showed a reduced N-acetyl aspartate (NAA)/phosphocreatine + creatine (PCr + Cr) ratio in the left ACC. The NAA/PCr + Cr ratio decreased in the right ACC in patients with MDD. In the left ACC of male MDD patients, the Cu/Zn ratio was inversely related to the NAA/PCr + Cr ratio, and Fe levels were negatively associated with the GPC + PC/PCr + Cr ratio., Conclusions: Our findings highlight gender-specific changes in Cu homeostasis among male MDD patients. The Cu/Zn ratio and Fe levels in male MDD patients were significantly linked to neurometabolic alterations in the ACC., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global public health problem, resulting in end-stage kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, and premature death., Aim: The aim of the study was to determine the profile of essential and toxic trace elements in erythrocytes of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and their relationship with selected anthropometric and biochemical parameters., Methods: The present study compared the profiles of trace elements, including toxic sub-stances, in the erythrocytes of 80 hemodialysis patients with CKD with 40 healthy subjects. All patients had stage 5 CKD. The levels of Cd and Pb were determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry and levels of Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu Cr, Ni, and Li by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry., Results: The ESRD patients demonstrated significantly lower Fe and Zn concentrations and significantly higher Mn and Li and toxic Pb and Cd concentrations in erythrocytes compared to those of the healthy controls. Negative correlations were observed, among others, between the concentrations of Cu, Li, and creatinine; Cu and phosphates; Mn, Pb, and transferrin saturation while positive correlations were noted between Cu, Cr, and transferrin and Pb, Cr, and the normalized protein catabolism rate., Conclusions: The higher concentrations of toxic elements present in the erythrocytes of CKD patients might have resulted from the reduced ability of the kidneys to excrete them. Moreover, differences in the concentrations of essential elements (Fe, Mn, Zn) between the two groups indicated that their resorption in the kidneys of CKD patients was impaired. Patients with CKD might benefit from interventions intended to reduce high, toxic concentrations of Pb and Cd and Li and Mn as an alternative supportive treatment. Iron and zinc supplementation should be a component for the treatment of anemia in CKD patients., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier GmbH.. All rights reserved.)

Background: Recent studies indicated that bioactive lipids of phosphatidylcholines (PCs) and lysophosphatidylcholines (LysoPCs) predict unhealthy metabolic phenotypes, but results remain inconsistent. To fill this knowledge gap, we investigated whether essential trace elements affect PC-Lyso PC remodeling pathways and the risk of insulin resistance (IR)., Methods: Anthropometric and blood biochemical data (glucose, insulin, and lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2)) were obtained from 99 adults. Blood essential/probably essential trace elements and lipid metabolites were respectively measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS)., Result and Conclusion: Except for LysoPC (O-18:0/0:0), an inverse V shape was observed between body weight and PC and LysoPC species. A Pearson correlation analysis showed that essential/probably-essential metals (Se, Cu, and Ni: r=-0.4∼-0.7) were negatively correlated with PC metabolites but positively correlated with LysoPC (O-18:0/0:0) (Se, Cu, and Ni: r=0.85-0.64). Quantile-g computation showed that one quantile increase in essential metals was associated with a 2.16-fold increase in serum Lp-PLA2 (β=2.16 (95 % confidence interval (CI): 0.34, 3.98), p=0.023), which are key enzymes involved in PC/Lyso PC metabolism. An interactive analysis showed that compared to those with the lowest levels (reference), individuals with the highest levels of serum PCs (pooled, M2) and the lowest essential/probably essential metals (M1) were associated with a healthier body composition and had a 76 % decreased risk of IR (odds ratio (OR)=0.24 (95 % CI: 0.06, 0.90), p<0.05). In contrast, increased exposure to LysoPC(O-18:0/0:0) (M2) and essential metals (M2) exhibited an 8.22-times highest risk of IR (OR= 8.22 (2.07, 32.57), p<0.05) as well as an altered body composition. In conclusion, overexposure to essential/probably essential trace elements may promote an unhealthy body weight and IR through modulating PC/LysoPC remodeling pathways., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

The Eastern Mediterranean Sea (EMS) exhibits high temperature and salinity, low levels of biologic production and is considered oligotrophic. Nonetheless, it is also a hotspot of biodiversity, with several important endangered flagship species, including several species of sea turtles. These turtles serve as bioindicators for the health of their ecologic systems, due to changes in diet, habitat and migration patterns that characterize different stages in their lives. This study covered 100 blood samples taken between 2008 and 2019 from 72 green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) tested for 67 elements, some of which carry toxic potential. The turtles were treated at the Israeli Sea Turtle Rescue Center (ISTRC) after being rescued from sea, exhibiting a variety of health conditions and Injuries. The data were compared to similar studies worldwide and serve as a basis for monitoring the health status of the green sea turtles' EMS populations. The results of all animals presented noticeably high levels of sulfur - an order of magnitude higher than sea turtles from other locations around the world. This paper discusses the possible origins of this element, as well as its potential effects, while raising the question regarding the ability of these sea turtles to endure such sulfur levels., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Introduction: Levels of serum selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn) decrease when total parental nutrition (TPN) is administered without trace element supplementation for just a few weeks. These trace elements are involved in thyroid hormone metabolism and their deficiencies cause thyroid dysfunction. However, there have been few reports on the details of its clinical course., Case Presentation: A 50-year-old man presented with thyroid dysfunction due to Se and Zn deficiency. He had an approximately 70-cm residual small intestine after undergoing intestinal resection and he received TPN without trace element supplementation for one and a half months. Blood tests revealed high levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (FT4) and low levels of free triiodothyronine (FT3). An abnormal pattern of thyroid function led to suspicion of Se deficiency. Se supplementation raised FT3 levels and lowered FT4 levels to within their respective reference ranges; however, subclinical hypothyroidism persisted with transient TSH elevation. We suspected that Zn deficiency also contributed to the hypothyroidism and, therefore, initiated Zn supplementation, which resulted in normalization of thyroid function., Discussion: Although thyroid dysfunction has been reported in many studies conducted on Se and Zn deficiencies, hormonal patterns vary between reports. Further accumulation of cases, including detailed data on nutritional status, would be of benefit to elucidate the clinical reality., Conclusion: It is important to consider Se and Zn deficiencies when TSH and FT4 levels are elevated. It should also be noted that transient TSH elevation may be observed with Se supplementation., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Hellenic Endocrine Society.)

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is an important diagnostic technique that uses powerful magnetic fields to generate detailed images of the human body. The aim of this study is to investigate to how static magnetic fields (SMF) affect the levels of trace elements and biochemical parameters in MRI staff' blood serum. This study examines the impacts of these exposures of 18 participants (9 males and 9 females) aged between 25 and 60.on the levels of trace elements in the blood serum and the biochemical parameters of the MRI staff at Azadi Teaching Hospital in Duhok and Zakho General Hospital-Bidari in Zakho City. Eighteen participants, consisting of nine males and nine females aged between 25 and 60, were selected from these hospitals. The researchers obtained blood samples and conducted analysis to determine the presence of trace elements (sodium, potassium, calcium, chloride) as well as numerous biochemical markers. The results showed that potassium and calcium levels increased with age, and older females had considerable deviations. Chloride levels exhibited a significant increase with age in both males and females. Glucose, creatinine, uric acid, and urea levels showed an increase with age, suggesting the possible damage to kidney function caused by continuous exposure to MRI. Increased levels of liver enzymes (GPT, GOT, ALP) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) were noticed, particularly in older females, indicating potential liver and thyroid dysfunction. These results highlight the importance of applying strict safety protocols and conducting regular health assessments for MRI personnel to minimize the possible hazards., Competing Interests: Compliance with ethical standards Conflict of interest The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

The coexistence of SAH with T2DM is a common comorbidity. In this study, we investigated the link between altered plasma antioxidant trace elements (ATE: manganese, selenium, zinc, and copper) and fatty acids ratio (FAR: polyunsaturated/saturated) imbalance as transition biomarkers between vascular pathology (SAH) to metabolic pathology (T2DM). Our data revealed strong correlation between plasma ATE and FAR profile, which is modified during SAH-T2DM association compared to the healthy group. This relationship is mediated by lipotoxicity (simultaneously prominent visceral adipose tissue lipolysis, significant flow of non-esterified free fatty acids release, TG-Chol-dyslipidemia, high association of total SFA, palmitic acid, arachidonic acid, and PUFA ω6/PUFA ω3; drop in tandem of PUFA/SFA and EPA + DHA); oxidative stress (lipid peroxidation confirmed by TAS depletion and MDA rise, concurrent drop of Zn/Cu-SOD, GPx, GSH, Se, Zn, Se/Mn, Zn/Cu; concomitant enhancement of Cu, Mn, and Fe); endothelial dysfunction (endotheline-1 increase); athero-thrombogenesis risk (concomitant rise of ApoB 100 /ApoA 1 , Ox-LDL, tHcy, and Lp(a)), and inflammation (higher of Hs-CRP, fibrinogen and ferritin). Our study opens to new therapeutic targets and to better dietary management, such as to establishing dietary ATE and PUFA ω6/PUFA ω3 or PUFA/SFA reference values for atherosclerotic risk prevention in hypertensive/diabetic patients.

Thyroid nodule (TN) has been becoming a great concern worldwide due to its high incidence. Although some studies have reported associations between trace elements exposure and the risk of TNs, the linkage was not inconclusive. The present study aimed to identify the association of selected serum trace elements (Ca, Mg, V, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, Se, Mn and Mo) with TNs among general adults. A cross-sectional study was conducted in January 2021 in Chengdu, China. 1282 subjects completed the questionnaire and gave at least one human biological material after an overnight fast, venous blood, and urine, including 377 TN participants defined through ultrasound. Various trace elements in serum specimens were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Thyroid functions were tested by chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA). The associations between trace elements levels and the risk of TNs were examined by restricted cubic splines (RCS) regression and bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) models. TNs were more common in females (P < 0.001) and in the elderly (P < 0.001) and that they were also frequently associated with fertility, marital status, annual household income, drinking, anxiety, vitamin supplement, tea consumption, hypertension and hyperlipidemia. After adjusting for confounders by a propensity score matching model, the association between trace elements concentrations and TNs risk was found to be statistically insignificant in the RCS (P for nonlinear > 0.05) and BKMR models. FT3 or T4 (total or free) increased significantly with increasing total trace elements mixture levels. In TI-RADS-4 TN subjects, TPO-Ab level increased significantly with increasing total trace elements mixture levels in the high-dose range. Ca, Zn, Mo at their 75th percentile showed positive individual effects on TPO-Ab, which was examined to be interactive. The detection of trace elements for TNs in general adults may be of no significance, but once individuals classified as TI-RADS-4 TNs are detected with abnormal TPO-Ab, Ca, Zn and Mo level are recommended to measure. The substantive association on it still needs to be continuously explored in the future., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background and Aims: Neural tube defects (NTDs) occur when the neural tube fails to close within 28 days of human embryonic development. This results in central nervous system disorders like anencephaly, spina bifida, and encephalocele. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to minimize their impact on an individual's health and well-being. The present study aims to define the association between prenatal exposure to trace elements (Cu and Zn) and the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of the MTHFR gene involved in folate metabolism pathways in neural tube defects in children and their mothers., Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 331 participants (90 NTD cases, 88 healthy mothers, 85 NTD children, and 68 healthy children) from antenatal check-ups in Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Pediatric Surgery for Neural Tube Defects in the Outpatient Department (OPD) and Inpatient Department (IPD). Assessed Cu and Zn concentrations and their associations. Genomic DNA was extracted, and real-time PCR was used to determine genotypes. Atomic absorption spectrophotometry measured trace elements. Statistical analyses included Chi-Square tests, odds ratios, and Mann-Whitney U tests., Results: Significant associations were found between MTHFR C677T genotypes and NTD risk in mothers (p = 0.0491) and children (p = 0.0297). Allelic frequency analysis indicated a T allele association with NTD risk in children (p = 0.0107). Recessive models showed significant associations in mothers (p = 0.0169) and children (p = 0.1678). Cu levels differed significantly between NTD cases and controls (p < 0.0001), with MTHFR genotypes influencing Cu levels. Zinc levels also varied significantly (p < 0.0001)., Conclusion: This study reveals complex associations between MTHFR C677T genotypes, trace element concentrations, and NTD risk in mothers and children. This targeted approach allows healthcare providers to identify at-risk pregnancies early, enabling personalised interventions like folic acid supplementation and counselling to moderate neural tube defect (NTD) risk in a future pregnancy., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Essential minerals are cofactors for synthesis of neurotransmitters supporting cognition and mood. An 8-week fully-blind randomised controlled trial of multinutrients for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) demonstrated three times as many children (age 6-12) had significantly improved behaviour ('treatment responders') on multinutrients (54 %) compared with placebo (18 %). The aim of this secondary study was to evaluate changes in fasted plasma and urinary mineral concentrations following the intervention and their role as mediators and moderators of treatment response. Fourteen essential or trace minerals were measured in plasma and/or urine at baseline and week eight from eighty-six participants (forty-nine multinutrients, thirty-seven placebos). Two-sample t tests/Mann-Whitney U tests compared 8-week change between treatment and placebo groups, which were also evaluated as potential mediators. Baseline levels were evaluated as potential moderators, using logistic regression models with clinical treatment response as the outcome. After 8 weeks, plasma boron, Cr (in females only), Li, Mo, Se and vanadium and urinary iodine, Li and Se increased more with multinutrients than placebo, while plasma phosphorus decreased. These changes did not mediate treatment response. However, baseline urinary Li trended towards moderation: participants with lower baseline urinary Li were more likely to respond to multinutrients ( P = 0·058). Additionally, participants with higher baseline Fe were more likely to be treatment responders regardless of the treatment group ( P = 0·036.) These results show that multinutrient treatment response among children with ADHD is independent of their baseline plasma mineral levels, while baseline urinary Li levels show potential as a non-invasive biomarker of treatment response requiring further study.

Background: Alopecia areata is an autoimmune hair loss disorder with an incompletely understood etiology. Although trace elements, serum metabolites, and inflammatory factors are implicated in the disease, the potential causal relationships between these factors and alopecia areata require further investigation., Methods: This study employed Mendelian randomization (MR), utilizing data from genome-wide association studies, to explore the causal relationships between 15 trace elements, 1400 serum metabolites, and 91 inflammatory factors and alopecia areata. The analysis was conducted using the inverse variance weighted (IVW) method complemented by various sensitivity analyses, including Cochran's Q test, MR-Egger regression intercept test, MR-PRESSO global test, and leave-one-out analysis, to assess the robustness of the results., Results: MR analysis indicated a negative correlation between copper levels and the risk of developing alopecia areata (odds ratio = 0.86, 95% confidence interval: 0.75-0.99, p = 0.041). Additionally, causal relationships were identified between 15 serum metabolites and 6 inflammatory factors and the risk of alopecia areata (IVW, all p values < 0.05)., Conclusion: This study provides genetic evidence of the relationships between trace elements, serum metabolites, and alopecia areata, underscoring the potential value of targeted therapeutic strategies and preventive measures. Future research should expand to diverse populations and further explore the specific roles of these biomarkers in the disease mechanism., (© 2024 The Author(s). Skin Research and Technology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Measuring trace element concentrations in tissue can be a valuable approach to monitor animal health status. Temporal variation in the absorption, transport, and storage of elements between different tissues can, however, complicate the assessment of element-health relationships. Here, we measured concentrations of selected essential (copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), selenium (Se)) and non-essential (arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb)) trace elements within blood, liver, kidney, and hair of fallow deer (Dama dama; N=20) and red deer (Cervus elaphus; N=21). Using multivariate regression and structural equation models, we estimated direct and indirect linkages between tissue-specific trace element profiles and long- (body condition) and short-term (serum protein biomarkers for acute inflammation, infection, and malnutrition) health indicators. Trace element concentrations varied markedly and were weakly correlated among tissues, with the exception of Se. After accounting for sex- and site-differences in trace element concentrations, body condition of red deer was directly, and positively, associated to trace element status in liver and hair, but not in kidney. For both deer species, trace element status in blood was directly linked to serum protein status with an indirect positive association to deer body condition. For fallow deer, no direct association between trace element status and body condition was detected in any of the tissues, possibly because of elemental homeostasis, and because all individuals were in good clinical health. This study shows that hair can serve as an effective, non-invasive, biomarker in deer health assessments, yet, to fully uncover trace element-health relationships a variety of sample matrices is preferred., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

The contribution of the diet to potentially toxic trace element exposure in pregnancy has been rarely addressed. The objective of the present study was to determine the association between the maternal diet during pregnancy and biomarkers of exposure for arsenic (As), mercury (Hg) and lead (Pb) at delivery. As was assessed in maternal urine, Hg in maternal hair, and Pb in cord blood, as a proxy for in utero exposure. Based on 2995 women from the ELFE nationwide birth cohort, higher scores for dietary patterns considered healthy were associated with higher concentrations of As and Hg in maternal matrices. Levels of cord blood Pb were inconsistently associated with dietary patterns considered healthy, and lower with a dietary pattern driven by milk and breakfast cereals. Lower levels of Hg were associated with higher Western dietary pattern scores. In conclusion, higher levels of maternal urinary As and hair Hg are associated with diets considered as "Healthy", while cord blood Pb was not strongly correlated with dietary exposure., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

The increasing global prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has been hypothesized to be associated with maternal exposure to environmental chemicals. Here, among 420 women participating in the Alberta Pregnancy Outcomes and Nutrition (APrON) cohort study, we examined associations between GDM and second trimester blood or urine concentrations of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs): bisphenol-A (BPA), bisphenol-S (BPS), twelve phthalate metabolites, eight perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs), and eleven trace elements. Fifteen (3.57%) of the women were diagnosed with GDM, and associations between the environmental chemical exposures and GDM diagnosis were examined using multiple logistic and LASSO regression analyses in single- and multi-chemical exposure models, respectively. In single chemical exposure models, BPA and mercury were associated with increased odds of GDM, while a significant inverse association was observed for zinc. Double-LASSO regression analysis selected mercury (AOR: 1.51, CI: 1.12-2.02), zinc (AOR: 0.017, CI: 0.0005-0.56), and perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnA), a PFAAs, (AOR: 0.43, CI: 0.19-0.94) as the best predictors of GDM. The combined data for this Canadian cohort suggest that second trimester blood mercury was a robust predictor of GDM diagnosis, whereas blood zinc and PFUnA were protective factors. Research into mechanisms that underlie the associations between mercury, zinc, PFUnA, and the development of GDM is needed., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Transfusion-dependent thalassemia (TDT) is a severe form of beta-thalassemia, characterized by defective-globin production, resulting in a buildup of unpaired alpha globin chains. Patients with TDT can only survive if they receive safe blood transfusions regularly, which causes iron overload in their blood, which causes a variety of disorders. Cations and trace elements in TDT patients as a drug target deserve more studies., Objectives: In the present study, the cations and some trace elements were studied in TDT patients as a tool to adjust their level in the case of any disturbances., Methods: Serum calcium, magnesium, zinc, copper, and iron were measured spectrophotometrically while manganese and cobalt were measured by flameless atomic absorption spectroscopy in 100 TDT patients and compared with 35 healthy control children., Results: Patients with TDT exhibit a notable elevation in blood levels of iron, copper, copper/zinc ratio, and manganese, with a substantial reduction in serum levels of zinc, magnesium, calcium, and cobalt, as compared to the control group. These minerals have diverse associations with clinical data and transfusion frequencies. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis revealed that the elevated levels of iron, manganese, and calcium exhibit the greatest diagnostic capability, with a sensitivity and specificity of over 80 %, and a Youdin's J value of more than 0.6., Conclusion: The levels of cations and trace elements are disturbed in TDT patients. Hence, the monitoring and adjustment of the level of these minerals are important to prevent further consequences., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest with any commercial or other affiliation on the submitted paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Fatty liver in dairy cows is a common metabolic disease defined by triglyceride (TG) buildup in the hepatocyte. Clinical diagnosis of fatty liver is usually done by liver biopsy, causing considerable economic losses in the dairy industry owing to the lack of more effective diagnostic methods. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the potential utility of blood biomarkers for the diagnosis and early warning of fatty liver in dairy cows., Results: A total of twenty-four lactating cows within 28 days after parturition were randomly selected as experimental animals and divided into healthy cows (liver biopsy tested, n = 12) and cows with fatty liver (liver biopsy tested, n = 12). Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to determine the macroelements and microelements in the serum of two groups of cows. Compared to healthy cows (C), concentrations of calcium (Ca), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), strontium (Sr), selenium (Se), manganese (Mn), boron (B) and molybdenum (Mo) were lower and copper (Cu) was higher in fatty liver cows (F). Meanwhile, the observed differences in macroelements and microelements were related to delivery time, with the greatest major disparity between C and F occurring 7 days after delivery. Multivariable analysis was used to test the correlation between nine serum macroelements, microelements and fatty liver. Based on variable importance projection and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, minerals Ca, Se, K, B and Mo were screened as the best diagnostic indicators of fatty liver in postpartum cows., Conclusions: Our data suggested that serum levels of Ca, K, Mg, Se, B, Mo, Mn, and Sr were lower in F than in C. The most suitable period for an early-warning identification of fatty liver in cows was 7 days after delivery, and Ca, Se, K, B and Mo were the best diagnostic indicators of fatty liver in postpartum cows., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The soil-plant-animal continuum represents an evolving realm in biological research that's why this study was undertaken in the middle Gangetic plain region of India. Trace and ultra-trace elements were analyzed in 100 soil samples, 147 feed and fodder samples, as well as 69 blood and 127 hair samples with the help of inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The levels of trace and ultra-trace elements in the soil were significantly higher than those in the feed, and similarly, the concentrations in the feed were notably higher than those in the blood of dairy cattle. Blood and hair samples from the cattle showed deficiencies in copper (Cu) and manganese (Mn), with reaching approximately 20% and 50%, respectively. Correlation analysis indicated significant (P < 0.05) associations between the trace and ultra-trace elements in plants and the corresponding elements found in cattle's hair, specifically for iron (Fe) and molybdenum (Mo). Conversely, a significant (P < 0.05) negative correlation was observed between soil composition and cattle's blood, while a positive correlation was evident only in the case of silver content between plant and cattle's hair. Regression analyses revealed positive linear relationships between minerals in soils and plants, as well as between plants and cattle. However, the correlation coefficients were statistically insignificant. The regression equations established to predict mineral concentrations in cattle based on soil and plant mineral contents indicated a positive relationship for both trace and ultra-trace elements, suggesting the potential to measure the mineral status in dairy cattle through this approach., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Background: The effects of prenatal element exposure on mothers and fetuses have generated concern. Profiles of trace and toxic elements in biological material are urgently desired, especially for women who reside near e-waste recycling facilities. The aim of this study was to investigate elements concentrations in placenta, cord blood, and maternal blood of women and to evaluate the influencing factors., Methods: A group of 48 women from an e-waste recycling site and a group of 31 women from a non-e-waste recycling site were recruited. Basic characteristics were collected by questionnaire and the concentrations of 17 elements in placenta, cord blood, and maternal blood samples were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Finally, the generalized linear model regression analysis (GLM) was used to test the association between element concentrations and possible factors., Results: Compared to the control group, the exposed group had significantly elevated cadmium (Cd), zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni), and antimony (Sb) in placenta, and higher lead (Pb) in maternal blood and cord blood (P<0.05). Sb concentration in maternal blood was significantly lower than in the control group (P<0.05). GLM analysis showed that element concentrations were mainly associated with maternal age [chromium (Cr), iron (Fe), selenium (Se), cobalt (Co), mercury (Hg) in placenta, copper (Cu) in maternal blood], education (Se, Sb in placenta), family income (Cu in maternal blood and Ni in placenta), passive smoking [Cu and Zn in placenta, Pb in maternal blood], and e-waste contact history (Hg in cord blood, Cu, Zn, and Cd in maternal blood)., Conclusions: Women in the e-waste recycling area had higher toxic element levels in the placenta and blood samples. More preventive measures were needed to reduce the risk of element exposure for mothers and fetuses in these areas., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Yacui Luo reports financial support was provided by Taizhou Science and Technology Bureau. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper, (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

The Objective: Of the present study was to assess essential trace element and mineral levels in serum, hair, and urine of healthy first-year students from Turkmenistan (n = 73) in comparison to students from Iran (n = 78) or Russia (n = 95)., Materials and Methods: Examination of foreign students was performed within two days after arrival to Russia during medical examination prior admission to RUDN University. Serum, hair, and urine trace element and mineral levels were assessed with inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS)., Results: The data demonstrate that the levels of trace elements and minerals in students from Turkmenistan share high similarity to elemental profiles of students from Iran. In comparison to students from Russia, subjects originating from Iran and Turkmenistan are characterized by lower serum cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), selenium (Se), vanadium (V), zinc (Zn) levels, higher urinary Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, V, and Zn, lower urinary Co and hair Mo, Se, and Zn content. Concomitantly, students from Turkmenistan were characterized by lower urinary Cr and Cu, serum Cu and V levels, higher circulating Zn concentration, as well as the lower hair Cr, Cu, iodine (I) and magnesium (Mg) content in comparison to Iranian subjects. The discriminant analysis demonstrated that hair, serum, and urinary trace element and mineral levels contributed to complete discrimination between the groups of students from different countries., Conclusions: The high similarity of trace element and mineral status of students from Turkmenistan and Iran is expected to be mediated by similar geochemical conditions in the bordering countries., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None, (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier GmbH.)

We aimed to explore the overall association between trace elements and cardiovascular disease (CVD) and its types in humans. A total of 5101 participants' blood samples from the 2011-2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were included. Biochemical data were collected from laboratory tests conducted at mobile screening centers. After assessing linearity, weighted logistic regression estimated the association between trace elements and various CVD types. Weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression and quantile-based g-computation (Qgcomp) evaluated the overall relationship between biological trace elements and CVD types. After fully adjusting for confounding factors, the odds ratios of overall CVD morbidity corresponding to the second, third, and fourth quartiles of higher selenium (Se) concentration were 0.711 (95% CI, 0.529-0.956, p = 0.024), 0.734 (95% CI, 0.546-0.987, p = 0.041), and 0.738 (95% CI, 0.554-0.983, p = 0.038), respectively. Moreover, an increase in the concentration of copper (Cu) was associated with an increased risk of stroke (95% CI, 1.012-1.094, p = 0.01), heart failure (95% CI, 1.001-1.095, p = 0.046), and heart attack (95% CI, 1.001-1.083, p = 0.046). As the concentration of trace elements in the body increased, there was a significant positive association between Cu and CVD prevalence. On the other hand, Se and zinc were negatively associated with CVD prevalence. A nonlinear relationship between Se and CVD was found, and an appropriate Se intake may reduce the risk of CVD. Cu levels positively correlated with CVD risk. However, prospective cohort studies are warranted to confirm the causal effects of the micronutrients on CVD and its types., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

A balanced trace element status is essential for the optimal functioning of all organisms. However, their concentrations are often altered in diverse medical conditions. This study investigated the trace element profiles in plasma samples of dogs with endocrine diseases and used chemometric techniques to explore their associations with biochemical data. Thirteen elements (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Se and Zn) were measured in 40 dogs with hyperadrenocorticism (HAC), 29 dogs with diabetes mellitus (DM), 11 dogs with hypothyroidism (HT) and 30 control dogs using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Statistically significant differences were observed for As, Cu, Mo, Se and Zn. In comparison with the control group, the HT patients had higher As and lower Se levels, while the HAC group had higher concentrations of Mo. All three disease groups had higher Cu and Zn concentrations than the control group, with the DM group having higher Cu concentrations and the HAC group higher Zn concentrations than the other endocrinopathy groups. The chemometric analysis revealed distinctive association patterns for discriminating each pathology group and the control group. Moreover, the analysis revealed the following associations: Mo with glucose levels and Cu with fructosamine levels in the DM group, As with cortisol levels in the HAC group, and Se with TT4 levels and As with TSH levels in the HT group. The study findings provide valuable insights into the complex relationships between trace elements and endocrinopathies, elucidating the associations with biochemical markers in these diseases. Larger-scale studies are necessary to fully understand the observed relationships and explore the potential clinical applications., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Horses are excellent bioindicators for the assessment of environmental pollution. The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels and potential bioaccumulation of 28 mineral elements in 75 horse whole blood samples collected from five pollution-prone areas of Sicily, Italy. A direct mercury analyzer (DMA-80) was used for Hg determination, and an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) for all other elements. A one-way ANOVA test, followed by Bonferroni's multiple comparison for post hoc comparison, was applied to assess statistically significant differences between mineral elements and the five experimental groups. The levels of mineral elements in hay and concentrate were below the limits set by Regulation No. 744/2012. The mineral content of whole blood samples was slightly influenced by the region of origin of the horse. p values < 0.05 were statistically meaningful. However, the concentrations of mineral elements in horses' whole blood remained within reference ranges. In conclusion, the present study shows that the mineral content does not represent a toxicological risk for the analyzed horses. In addition, the study areas did not appear to show a high mineral element contamination., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Serum trace elements and oxidative stress factors are related to diabetic microvascular complications. The study was to investigate the complex relationship between trace elements, oxidative stress factors, and the severity of microvascular complications of diabetes in older adults., Methods: The present study included patients with or without type 2 diabetes, and blood glucose, blood lipids, trace elements (iron, magnesium, zinc), oxidative stress factors (malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC)) were evaluated. Risk factors for the severity of diabetic microvascular complications in older adults with diabetes were also estimated., Results: There were statistically significant differences in fasting blood glucose (FBG), triglycerides (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL), glycated hemoglobin (HbAlc), MDA, NO, SOD, T-AOC, magnesium, and zinc between the two groups ( P<0.05 ). Iron (r Zinc = 0.147, r SOD = 0.180, r T-AOC = 0.193, P < 0.05 ) was positively correlated with zinc, SOD and T-AOC. Iron was negatively correlated with MDA (r MDA = -0.146, P < 0.05 ). Magnesium was positively correlated with SOD (r Magnesium = 0.147, P < 0.05 ). Zinc (r SOD = 0.616, r T-AOC = 0.575, P < 0.01 ) was positively correlated with SOD and T-AOC. Zinc (r MDA =-0.636, r NO =-0.616, P<0.01 ) was positively correlated with MDA and negatively correlated with NO. The course of disease (18.653, [5.726; 60.764], P <0.01 ), FBG (1.265, [1.059; 1.511], P <0.05 ), HbAlc (1.545, [1.431; 1.680], P <0.01), MDA (2.989, [1.900; 4.702], P <0.01 ) were risk factor for the severity of diabetic microvascular complications. Zinc (0.680, [0.503; 0.919], P < 0.05 ) and SOD (0.820, [0.698; 0.964], P < 0.05 ) were protective factors for the severity of diabetic microvascular complications., Conclusion: Serum trace elements are related to oxidative stress levels in older adults with type 2 diabetes. The more stable trace element in older adults with diabetes, the lower the oxidative stress and the fewer microvascular complications of diabetes., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests in this work., (© 2024 Sun et al.)

Background & Aims: In this study, we assessed serum trace element concentrations in patients with pancreatic cancer and compared the results to those of healthy controls and patients with chronic pancreatitis. We evaluated the association between trace element concentrations during cancer treatment and the risk of cancer progression and mortality in pancreatic cancer patients., Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted at a tertiary center in Korea. Serum trace element concentrations of cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), selenium (Se), and zinc (Zn) were measured at diagnosis using an inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry in 124 patients with pancreatic cancer, 50 patients with chronic pancreatitis, and 120 healthy controls. Trace elements were measured after a median of 282.5 (95% confidence interval [CI], 224.0-326.5) days from treatment initiation to assess changes in trace element concentrations during treatment., Results: Serum Co concentrations were significantly higher in patients with chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer compared to healthy controls, while serum Se concentrations were significantly lower. During treatment, serum concentrations of Cu, Se, and Zn significantly decreased in patients with pancreatic cancer. During the follow-up (median 152.5; 95% CI, 142.8-160.0 months), 85.5% of patients experienced progression or relapse, and 84.7% of patients died. Patients with decreased Se and Zn concentrations during treatment had a higher mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 2.10; 95% CI, 1.31-3.38; P = 0.0020 for Se; HR, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.06-2.79; P = 0.0269 for Zn) compared to those with unchanged or increased trace element concentrations during treatment. Patients with a greater reduction in Zn concentrations during treatment had a higher mortality than those with a smaller reduction (HR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.01-2.52; P = 0.0483). Patients whose Zn status changed from normal to deficient during treatment had an increased mortality (HR, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.16-2.67, P = 0.0084). Patients with multiple (≥2) trace element deficiencies after treatment had poorer outcomes than those with no or single trace element deficiency., Conclusions: This study revealed that decreases in Se and Zn concentrations during cancer treatment were associated with adverse outcomes in terms of cancer progression and mortality in patients with pancreatic cancer. Further prospective investigations are recommended., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest The authors declare no potential conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To describe the copper and selenium statuses of beef calves at weaning., Animal: Calves ( n = 1998) were sampled from 106 Canadian cow-calf herds in the fall of 2021., Procedure: Serum samples from calves were tested for copper, selenium, and molybdenum concentrations., Results: Although the percentages of calves classified as selenium deficient (< 0.025 ppm) were relatively low (0.5% western Canada, 3% eastern Canada), 53% of calves from western Canada and 77% of calves from eastern Canada were classified as having less than adequate selenium concentrations (< 0.08 ppm). Copper deficiency (< 0.5 ppm) was common in calves from both western (17%) and eastern (14%) Canada. High molybdenum concentrations (> 0.10 ppm) were identified in 6% of calves from western Canada and 7% of calves from eastern Canada., Conclusion: Selenium concentrations were higher in calves from western Canada than from those in eastern Canada ( P < 0.001). Copper and molybdenum concentrations were not significantly different between western and eastern Canada. Less-than-adequate serum copper was the most common deficiency identified in Canadian beef calves at weaning., Clinical Relevance: Trace minerals are important for immune system function in calves at weaning. Selenium concentrations in calves at weaning were lower than in cows from the same herds collected at pregnancy testing 2 y earlier. Copper deficiency was also identified, though less frequently than for mature cows. Supplementation programs for calves should be customized based on testing and recognize both regional and age differences in risk., (Copyright and/or publishing rights held by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association.)

Cardiomyopathies (CMP) represent a significant health problem as they have a poor long-term prognosis and often require transplantation. Heavy metals are known to have cardiotoxic effects and some of them, such as cadmium (Cd), are found to be elevated in the urine and blood of individuals with heart diseases; nevertheless, direct measurement of metals (e.g. zinc (Zn) which is necessary for normal heart function), in the myocardium of individuals with CMP has not been performed. Here, we aimed to analyze the levels of a group of metals in the myocardium of the left ventricle in individuals with CMP. At the Institute of Pathology, we collected 52 samples of left ventricle post-mortem, out of which 19 subjects had been diagnosed with CMP (mean age: 72 y ± 10), and 33 subjects had not suffered from any heart disease (mean age: 67 y ± 15). We found out that individuals with CMP had a significantly higher concentrations of lead, nickel, manganese and copper than non-CMP subjects (p = 0.002, p < 0.001, p = 0.011, and p = 0.002). Interestingly, zinc was significantly lower in CMP subjects than in n-CMP individuals (p = 0.017). Our results indicated the involvement of an increased lead, nickel, copper and manganese heart load in individuals with CMP coupled with lower concentrations of zinc., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Trace elements are an essential component of metabolism and medical nutrition therapy, with key roles in metabolic pathways, antioxidation, and immunity, which the present course aims at summarizing., Results: Medical nutrition therapy includes the provision of all essential trace elements. The clinical essential issues are summarized for Copper, Iron, Selenium, Zinc, Iodine, Chromium, Molybdenum, and Manganese: the optimal analytical techniques are presented. The delivery of all these elements occurs nearly automatically when the patient is fed with enteral nutrition, but always requires separate prescription in case of parenteral nutrition. Isolated deficiencies may occur, and some patients have increased requirements, therefore a regular monitoring is required. The clinicians should always consider the impact of inflammation on blood levels, mostly lowering them even in absence of deficiency., Conclusion: This text summarises the most relevant clinical manifestations of trace element depletion and deficiency, the difficulties in assessing status, and makes practical recommendations for provision for enteral and parenteral nutrition., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None of the above authors declares any conflict., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Emerging evidence expands on a close connection between trace elements and muscular abnormalities, mostly focusing on sarcopenia. We hypothesized an association between concentrations of serum trace elements and myosteatosis, given that myosteatosis has a more pronounced clinical implication relative to sarcopenia, but there is a paucity of data in patients with cirrhosis. Consecutive patients were hospitalized for cirrhosis-associated complications. Serum trace elements (zinc, copper, manganese [Mn], magnesium, calcium, and iron) were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The presence of myosteatosis was defined according to computed tomography-demarcated intramuscular adipose tissue content. In total, the 295 patients with cirrhosis analyzed had a median age of 63 years and 53.6% were male. Among them, 42 patients presented with myosteatosis (14.2%) and concomitant higher Model for End-stage Liver Disease-Sodium and triglyceride concentrations and lower neutrophil counts and serum Mn concentrations (all P < .05). No differences were found regarding other 5 trace elements in patients with versus without myosteatosis. The median serum Mn concentrations were 1.16 µg/L, and this population was categorized into high-Mn and low-Mn groups. The proportion of myosteatosis was significantly lower in high-Mn group than that in low-Mn group (8.1% vs 20.4%, P < .001). Univariable binary logistic regression indicated that low Mn was associated with myosteatosis (odds ratio, 2.906; 95% confidence interval, 1.424-5.932; P = .003) in the context of cirrhosis. This result was validated according to multivariable analysis by adjusting for confounding factors. In conclusion, low serum Mn can be predictive of myosteatosis, a novel muscular abnormality representing more clinical relevance and close relation to inferior outcomes among cirrhosis., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Micronutrients (MN), i.e. trace elements and vitamins, are essential components of the diet in relatively small amounts in any form of nutrition, with special needs in critically ill patients. Critical illness is characterised by the presence of inflammation and oxidative stress. MNs are tightly involved in antioxidant and immune defences. In addition, some conditions, and treatments result in large losses of biological fluids containing MNs: therefore, acute renal injury requiring renal replacement therapy, acute intestinal failure, and major burns and trauma are at high risk of acute depletion of body stores, and of deficiency. MN requirements are increased above standard DRI. Blood level interpretation is complicated by inflammation: some biomarkers assist the status determination. Due to the acute challenges of critical illness, it of utmost importance to cover the needs to maintain the organism's endogenous immune and antioxidant defences, and capacity to repair tissues. Practical strategies are proposed., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None of the above authors declares any conflict., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)