Serum copper, zinc and risk factors for cardiovascular disease in community-living Japanese elderly women.

Abstract

Associations of copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) serum levels with risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) have not been extensively studied in elderly Asian people. Relationships to CVD risk factors were examined in 202 freely-living elderly Japanese women. By univariate analysis, log high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and non-HDL cholesterol were associated with serum Cu concentrations. An independent predictor of Cu was log hsCRP. Serum Zn concentrations decreased with age. After adjustment for age, serum albumin, HDL cholesterol and red blood cell (RBC) were positively and serum insulin and log hsCRP were inversely associated with serum Zn. In stepwise multiple regression analysis (model 1), serum albumin and HDL cholesterol were associated with serum Zn. In analysis excluding albumin from model 1 (model 2), independent determinants were log hsCRP (inverse) and the total number of RBC. In analysis including serum creatinine in model 2, creatinine has emerged as a determinant in addition to log hsCRP and RBC number. In analysis including estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) instead of creatinine and excluding age in model 2, eGFR has emerged as a determinant of serum Zn in addition to log hsCRP and RBC number. Systemic low-grade inflammation may contribute to elevated serum Cu and decreased serum Zn concentrations in the elderly, and may represent an important confounder of the relationship between the serum trace elements and mortality in this population.