Essential and toxic trace elements and their relationships with cardiometabolic risk factors in adults and the elderly
Micronutrients, heavy metals, hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, high blood pressure, cardiovascular risk
Evidence suggests a relationship between concentrations of essential and toxic trace elements and the worsening of cardiometabolic risk factors. This study aimed to investigate the concentrations of zinc, copper, selenium, arsenic, cadmium and mercury and their relationship with cardiometabolic risk factors in adults and elderly. This cross-sectional study was carried out with 112 individuals of both sexes, participating in the Brazilian Usual Consumption Assessment Study (BRAZUCA). Sociodemographic, clinical and lifestyle data were collected. Anthropometric parameters, glycemic and lipid profile, blood pressure and ultra-sensitive C-reactive protein (CRP-us) were evaluated. The Global Risk Score (ERG) was calculated, and the cardiovascular risk defined. Zinc, selenium and copper in plasma, and arsenic, cadmium, mercury in urine were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry technique (ICP-MS). An inverse association was observed between arsenic in urine and the visceral adiposity index (VAI) (β -0.03, p<0.01), triglycerides (β -1.10, p<0.01) and VLDL cholesterol (β -0.14, p=0.02). Plasma copper and copper/zinc ratio were directly associated with fasting glucose (plasma copper: β 0.38, p<0.01; copper/zinc ratio: β 36.02, p=0.01) and highsensitivity c-reactive protein (hs-CRP) (plasma copper: β 0.004, p<0.01; copper/zinc ratio: β 0.68, p<0.001). Systolic blood pressure was inversely associated with arsenic in urine (β -0.14, p=0.04) and cadmium (β -36.42, p=0.04) and, diastolic blood pressure was inversely associated with cadmium in urine (β -21.55, p=0.03) and directly with mercury in urine (β 1.45, p=0.03). Interaction between cadmium and mercury in urine was significant association with triglycerides (p= 0.03). The concentrations of essential and toxic elements in different biological matrices, either alone or in multiple element models, were associated with cardiometabolic risk factors, suggesting the expansion of studies that confirm the usefulness of these elements as predictors of cardiovascular risk.