Abstract
This study aimed (1) to assess serum trace elements concentrations and hematological parameters, (2) to evaluate the sex differences in the associations between serum trace elements levels and hematological parameters, and (3) to identify the associations between serum trace elements concentrations and risk of anemia among Japanese community dwellers. This is a community-based cross-sectional study that utilized the data of the 2014 Iwaki Health Promotion Project. Participants were 1176 community dwellers (>18 years) residing in the Iwaki District, Aomori Prefecture, Japan. We assessed the data of serum trace elements concentrations of cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), selenium (Se), zinc (Zn), and iron (Fe) as well as the hematological parameters of red blood cells (RBC) counts, hemoglobin, packed cells volume (PCV), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH). Serum concentrations of Zn (871.5 μg/L vs. 900.1 μg/L) and Fe (946.8 μg/L vs. 1096.1 μg/L) were significantly lower in females than in males, while serum concentrations of Co (0.4 μg/L vs. 0.3 μg/L) and Cu (1062.4 μg/L vs. 965.3 μg/L) were significantly higher in females. By multivariate linear regression, serum Se concentration was significantly, positively associated with PCV (β = 1.04; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.17, 1.92; p = 0.016) among the study participants. Serum Zn also had positive associations with hemoglobin (β = 0.42; 95% CI: 0.07, 0.77; p = 0.020), PCV (β = 1.79; 95% CI: 0.78, 2.81; p < 0.001), and RBCs count (β = 15.56; 95% CI: 7.31, 31.69; p = 0.002). On the other hand, serum Co concentration was negatively associated with the hematological parameters, particularly in females. Moreover, serum Zn concentration had a decreased risk of anemia (lowest vs. highest quartiles: odds ratio (OR) = 0.42; 95% CI: 0.23, 0.76; p = 0.005) while higher Co concentrations had an increased risk of anemia (lowest vs. highest quartiles: OR = 1.95; 95% CI: 1.04, 3.67; p = 0.037). However, no significant association was found between serum Cu level and hematological parameters. There were substantial sex differences in serum trace elements, implying that trace elements metabolism differed between males and females. Zn can play a protective role in the development of anemia. Surprisingly, increased Co concentration increased the risk of anemia among our study population, which called for further studies to confirm and to consider for speciation analysis.
Highlights
Trace elements play an important role as essential components or cofactors of enzymes throughout hemopoiesis [1]
Our study revealed that, compared to the lowest quartile group of serum Zn concentration, the highest Zn concentration group had about 60% decreased risks of anemia (Adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 0.42; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.23, 0.76)
This study demonstrated that the associations between trace elements and hematological parameters were significantly influenced by sex among a general population
Summary
Trace elements play an important role as essential components or cofactors of enzymes throughout hemopoiesis [1]. Most of the trace elements are critically involved during hemopoiesis via the metabolically important enzymatic pathway [1]. Trace elements can alter the synthesis of red blood cells and can influence the distribution and the storage of blood cells in the target organs, thereby altering the status of blood parameters in the body [2]. Previous studies demonstrated the link between the Se deficiency and the risk of anemia [4,5]. Zn deficiency is one of the main contributing factors for anemia, since Zn assisted enzymes are essential to utilize Fe for hemoglobin synthesis [7]. In case of Cu, Cu acts as an essential component of the functioning enzymes such as ferroxidase, hephestin, and ceruloplasmin; it is related to the etiology of anemia due to defect in
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