Biological Trace Element Research最新文献

Human hair has emerged as a promising non-invasive matrix for assessing long-term exposure to essential and toxic trace elements relevant to cardiovascular disease. However, its clinical applicability depends on the availability of robust and fully validated analytical methodologies capable of overcoming matrix-related challenges. This study aimed to develop and validate a reliable and high-throughput method for multi-elemental (As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Se and Zn) analysis of human hair using microwave-assisted acid digestion followed by ICP-MS/MS, and to explore its potential application in a pilot cohort of heart failure (HF) patients. Method validation was performed using the certified reference material ERM-DB001. Analytical performance was evaluated in both no-gas and He-KED modes, assessing precision, trueness, procedural detection limits, and measurement uncertainty according to EURACHEM/CITAC guidelines. The influence of sample mass (20-200 mg) was also investigated. The validated method was subsequently applied to hair samples from 25 HF patients and 25 control subjects. The method demonstrated satisfactory intra- and inter-day precision, particularly for Cd, Cu, Se, and Zn. He-KED mode effectively reduced polyatomic interferences, improving selectivity and lowering detection limits for elements such as As and Se. Optimal analytical performance was achieved for sample masses between 60 and 100 mg, while lower masses resulted in increased uncertainty. In the pilot application, exploratory differences were observed for Pb, Mg, Ca and Zn concentrations, together with changes in selected elemental correlations (Mg/Na, Pb/Mn, Sr/Ni, Fe/Al, Fe/Ti and Mn/Ti) between heart failure patients and controls. The validated ICP-MS/MS method provides a sensitive and reliable approach for multi-elemental analysis of human hair. Its robustness and applicability to real samples support its potential use in clinical and epidemiological studies, although further research with larger cohorts is required to confirm the observed trends.

This study investigated potentially toxic metal (PTM) levels in cheeses produced in different regions of Türkiye and evaluated the associated dietary exposure and non-carcinogenic health risk. A total of 84 cheese samples were collected from seven geographical regions and classified according to milk source, ripening stage, and production type. After microwave-assisted acid digestion, PTM levels were quantified by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and exposure and non-carcinogenic risk were evaluated using Estimated Daily Intake (EDI), Target Hazard Quotient (THQ), and Hazard Index (HI). Aluminium (Al), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn) ranged from <0.00215 to 7.29,<0.00769 to 38.8, and 0.68 to 56.6 mg/kg wet weight, respectively, whereas chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), selenium (Se), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb) ranged from <0.58 to 244, <1.26 to 369, <1.88 to 4067, <0.91 to 1378, <0.06 to 12.3, and <2.19 to 1754 µg/kg wet weight, respectively. Values marked with "<" represent concentrations below the limit of quantification (LOQ). Arsenic (As) was not detected in any sample. Significant differences were observed for selected PTMs according to ripening stage, milk source, production type, and region (p<0.05). The toxicological contribution (TC) values for nutritional PTM exposure were low. THQ and HI values remained below 1, suggesting a low overall non-carcinogenic risk; however, Pb exceedances in some samples indicate the need for continued PTM monitoring.

This study aimed to evaluate how different levels of boric acid (BA) supplementation affect performance, serum biochemistry, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and intestinal structure in late-laying hens subjected to feed restriction. We randomly assigned 180 laying hens, 70 weeks old, into six groups: a non-feed-restricted control group (CON1), non-feed-restricted groups supplemented with 60 mg/kg feed (B60-1) and 90 mg/kg feed (B90-1) of BA, a feed-restricted control group (CON2), and feed-restricted groups supplemented with 60 mg/kg feed (B60-2) and 90 mg/kg feed (B90-2) of BA. The experiment lasted 56 days. Feed restriction significantly reduced egg production and body weight (p < 0.05). However, feed efficiency improved in the feed-restricted control group (CON2) (p < 0.05). In serum biochemical analyses, Alanine transaminase (ALT) levels were lower in the B60-1 group, while triglyceride and total cholesterol levels were lowest in the B90-2 group. Uric acid levels were highest in the CON2 group (p < 0.05), and total protein levels decreased in the B90-2 group (p < 0.05). Nrf-2, GCLC, and GCLM levels were higher in the control groups (CON1 and CON2) compared with BA-supplemented groups (p < 0.01). ATF-4, ATF-6, IRE-1, and CHOP levels significantly increased in the feed-restricted control group (CON2) and decreased with BA supplementation (p ≤ 0.005). While we did not observe significant differences in duodenal structure (p > 0.05), feed restriction caused reductions in villus height and epithelial height in the jejunum and ileum. These reductions were partially improved in the B60-2 and B90-2 groups (p < 0.05). In conclusion, BA supplementation during feed restriction may help maintain intestinal integrity, adjust cellular stress responses, and support performance-related metabolic changes in late-laying hens.

The consumption of zero-labeled beverages has increased as an alternative to sugar-rich beverages. Although these products are primarily characterized by reduced energy and sugar contents, their mineral and trace element compositions may vary depending on formulation-related factors. The mineral and trace element contents of zero-labeled and regular beverages in Korea were compared. A total of 86 commonly consumed processed beverages were selected as 1:1 matched pairs across major beverage categories. Energy, macronutrient, and sodium data were obtained from nutrition labels, while the contents of macro-minerals (calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and potassium) and trace minerals (iron, copper, zinc, manganese, molybdenum, chromium, and selenium) were determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Beverage pH was also measured. Zero-labeled products contained significantly lower energy and sugar levels than regular beverages. Potassium content was significantly higher in zero-labeled carbonated beverages (12.17 vs. 6.73 mg/100 g), and both the potassium and molybdenum contents were higher in zero-labeled energy drinks. Zinc content was significantly lower in zero-labeled mixed beverages. Selenium content was higher in zero-labeled beverages than in regular beverages overall (1.88 vs. 0.87 µg/100 g), particularly in carbonated beverages, sports drinks, and mixed beverages. Other minerals and trace elements did not differ significantly between the groups overall. Beverage pH did not differ between the groups, but was positively correlated with potassium, manganese, and chromium contents. These findings indicate that zero-labeled beverages do not substantially differ from regular beverages in overall mineral and trace element provision but potentially contribute to greater dietary exposure to select minerals in specific beverage categories.

Background: Emerging evidence suggests a critical link between micronutrient deficiencies and mental health. This study investigated the relationship between serum levels of Magnesium (Mg), Iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn), and Selenium (Se) and the severity of depression among adults in the Sukkur region of Pakistan.

Methodology: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted with 215 participants (105 males, 110 females). Depression severity was assessed using the PHQ-9 instrument, and serum mineral levels were measured using Photometric techniques. Following baseline analysis, a targeted interventional phase was initiated with 40 severely depressed participants, who received a one-month regimen of mineral supplements. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA-Tukey and Pearson correlation (p < 0.05).

Results: Baseline results revealed a significant inverse correlation between mineral concentrations and depression severity, with the strongest correlations observed for Magnesium (r = -0.771) and Selenium (r = -0.735). Gender-stratified data showed that females generally possessed lower mineral stores, particularly within the severe depression category (Mg: 1.50 ± 0.21 mg/dL). Following the four-week supplementation period, a statistically significant reduction in mean symptom scores was recorded; mean PHQ-9 scores decreased by approximately 50%, falling from "Severe" (~ 18.5) to "Mild" (~ 8.5) levels. This psychological recovery mirrored the significant restoration of serum mineral levels, with Magnesium rising from 1.26 ± 0.01 to 2.23 ± 0.02 mg/dL and Zinc increasing from 46.45 0.53 to 76.95 ± 0.88 µg/dL.

Conclusion: The findings confirm that mineral depletion is strongly associated with the severity of depression. The significant attenuation of depressive symptoms observed during the exploratory targeted supplementation phase suggests the potential value of nutritional therapy as a supportive adjunct or secondary intervention strategy for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD).

Cadmium is an environmentally relevant metal toxicant associated with impaired bone health, but the mechanistic architecture linking cadmium exposure to osteoporosis remains insufficiently organized. We developed a cadmium-centered, adverse outcome pathway (AOP)-guided framework by integrating population epidemiology, toxicogenomics, bulk and single-cell transcriptomics, inferred myeloid pseudotime, and spatial transcriptomics. Survey-weighted analyses of NHANES 2013-2014 and 2017-2018 showed that whole-blood cadmium was positively associated with osteoporosis (odds ratio, 1.43; 95% confidence interval, 1.05-1.95), with an increasing exposure-response pattern. In quantile g-computation using total femur bone mineral density as the outcome, cadmium contributed the largest negative-direction weight. Cadmium-related toxicogenomic evidence from the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database was organized into six biologically interpretable key-event modules. Bulk transcriptomic analyses revealed compartment-skewed module representation in femoral tissue and peripheral monocytes, whereas single-cell analysis localized module scores mainly to stromal and myeloid populations. Myeloid pseudotime analysis identified three associated gene programs reflecting innate defense, interferon activation, and remodeling/lipid handling. Spatial transcriptomics further revealed niche-associated module distributions, trabecula-related gradients, and nonrandom spatial clustering, particularly for bone-remodeling, inflammation/cell-fate, and oxidative stress/mitochondrial modules. These findings provide a spatially contextualized, hypothesis-generating AOP framework that organizes cadmium-osteoporosis association evidence with osteoporosis-relevant molecular and spatial patterns. The proposed relationships require validation in longitudinal exposure studies and experimental models.

The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is an obligate bamboo specialist and exhibits pronounced seasonal shifts in diet composition. To investigate how wild pandas respond to seasonal variations in dietary trace minerals, we quantified four essential elements-iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu)-in the dominant bamboo species (Bashania fargesii and Fargesia qinlingensis) and in panda feces over a full annual cycle in Foping National Nature Reserve, China. Using nutritional geometry (Geometric Framework, GF) and the Right-Angled Mixture Triangle (RMT) model, we assessed seasonal intake priorities, key elemental ratios (Cu/Mn, Cu/Zn), and relative mineral utilization. Trace mineral prioritization was strongly time-dependent: during the breeding, leaf-feeding, and overwintering periods, the prioritization pattern was Cu > Zn > Mn, whereas during the shoot-feeding stages of both bamboo species, it shifted to Cu > Mn > Zn. Copper consistently emerged as the highest ingestion priority mineral across all seasons, while iron consistently showed the lowest ingestion priority. The Cu/Mn and Cu/Zn ratios varied dynamically with dietary shifts: Cu/Mn was significantly higher in shoots than in leaves, and Cu/Zn peaked in April (Bashania shoots) and August (Fargesia leaves). Compared with wild individuals, captive pandas in Sichuan exhibited substantially higher Fe intake relative to Cu (77-623 mg Fe per 1 mg Cu vs. 13-29 mg Fe per 1 mg Cu in wild pandas), indicating a potential risk of iron overload. We conclude that wild giant pandas maintain trace mineral balance by synchronizing seasonal migration and dietary switching with fluctuations in bamboo mineral profiles. Our results emphasize the conservation importance of maintaining bamboo diversity in situ and highlight the need to refine captive feeding protocols to mimic wild seasonal nutritional patterns, particularly with respect to Fe regulation.

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is increasingly recognized as a systemic condition characterized by intricate endocrine and metabolic dysregulation. Emerging evidence suggests that environmental contaminants may drive its pathogenesis, supporting an expanded conceptualization of the disorder as polycystic metabolic-ovarian syndrome (PMOS). This systematic review aimed to evaluate the association between exposure to potentially toxic elements (PTEs) and endocrine disruptors and the reproductive, hormonal, and metabolic clinical features of PCOS.

Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic search was conducted across PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science for human observational studies published up to 31 December 2025. Methodological quality was appraised using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). Due to heterogeneity in biological matrices and toxicant classes, a narrative synthesis was performed.

Results: Fourteen high-quality studies (NOS scores 8-9) from seven countries met the inclusion criteria. The evidence consistently linked exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals specifically bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates-with hyperandrogenism, altered luteinizing hormone/follicle-stimulating hormone ratios, and impaired ovarian reserve. Furthermore, heavy metals (cadmium, lead, mercury, arsenic) and emerging rare earth elements were significantly elevated in women with PCOS across multiple matrices (serum, urine, and follicular fluid). These exposures were strongly associated with metabolic disturbances, including insulin resistance, obesity indices, and lipid abnormalities, mediated predominantly by oxidative stress pathways and impaired antioxidant defences.

Conclusion: Current observational evidence suggests associations between exposure to selected environmental toxicants and endocrine‑metabolic features of PCOS. However, heterogeneity in exposure assessment, biological matrices, PCOS diagnostic criteria, and confounder adjustment limits causal interpretation. Future prospective studies with repeated biomonitoring are needed.

Insulin resistance arises from impaired insulin signaling, leading to reduced glucose uptake and the progression of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Experimental evidence indicates that lithium modulates insulin signaling pathways; however, its role in the development of insulin resistance remains poorly defined. Anthropometric, biochemical, and lifestyle data were collected. IR was assessed via HOMA-IR, and insulin processing/clearance was evaluated by insulin to c-peptide ratio (ICPR). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression identified independent predictors of IR. ROC analysis assessed the diagnostic performance of Li. Linear regression examined associations between biochemical parameters and IR. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 211 adults with T2D attending AIIMS Raebareli; of these, 172 participants with complete data constituted the final analytical cohort, including 122 (70.9%) with insulin resistance (IR). The IR group exhibited significantly higher fasting and postprandial glucose, insulin, C-peptide, ICPR, total cholesterol, and TyG index, and lower serum lithium levels than the non-IR group. Multivariate logistic regression analyses identified ICPR, TyG index, and serum lithium (OR = 3.69, 95% CI: 1.190-11.437, P = 0.024) as independent predictors of IR. ROC analysis showed that a lithium cutoff of 0.1 mmol/L predicted IR, with 81.9% sensitivity and 56.5% specificity (AUC = 0.863). Lower lithium levels were associated with higher insulin, C-peptide, and ICPR, and linear regression revealed a significant inverse association between lithium and HOMA-IR (β = -0.233, p = 0.007). Lower serum lithium levels independently predict insulin resistance in T2DM, alongside ICPR and TyG index. This association with hyperinsulinemia and impaired insulin processing/clearance suggests a potential mechanistic role for lithium in metabolic dysregulation.