The association between blood copper concentration and biomarkers related to cardiovascular disease risk - analysis of 206 individuals in the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966

Association of Blood Trace Elements Levels with Cardiovascular Disease in US Adults: a Cross-Sectional Study from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011-2016

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.

Dynamic changes of serum trace elements following cardiac surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Cardiac surgeries are known to induce an inflammatory response. Besides, dietary factors such as trace elements contribute to promoting cardiovascular health by maintaining oxidative balance. Here we systematically review the literature about alterations in serum concentrations of zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and selenium (Se) in response to cardiac surgeries.

METHODS

A systematic search was performed on databases until the end of December 2022. Studies assessing the changes of mentioned elements in adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery were included. Changes in the means and standard deviations of the elements before and after the cardiac surgery were utilized as desired effect sizes.

RESULTS

Among 1252 records found in the primary search, 23 and 21 articles were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis respectively. Seventeen studies evaluated the changes in serum Zn and Cu levels, and fifteen studies assessed Se levels. According to the results of quantitative analysis, Zn, Cu, and Se concentrations, one day after the surgery were significantly lower than preoperative values (WMD for Zn: 4.64 µmol/L [3.57-5.72], WMD for Cu: 1.62 µmol/L [0.52-2.72], and WMD for Se: 0.1 µmol/L [0.03-0.16]). The concentration of trace elements recovered gradually during the first-week post-operation and reached preoperative levels or even higher.

CONCLUSION

Serum trace elements dropped significantly soon after the cardiac surgery, but they reached their baseline levels mostly during the first week after the surgery. Future studies are warranted to elucidate the impact of alterations in serum concentration of trace elements on the outcomes and complications of open-heart surgeries.

Association between serum copper levels and risk of cardiovascular disease: A nested case-control study in the PREDIMED trial

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Certain trace elements have been associated with increased cardiovascular risk. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between serum copper (S-Cu) levels and the risk of a first event of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in a population of older adults with high cardiovascular risk.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We conducted a case-control study nested within the PREDIMED trial. During a median follow-up of 4.8 years, a total of 207 incident cases diagnosed with CVD were matched for sex, age, and intervention group with 436 controls. Personal interviews, reviews of medical records, and validated questionnaires were used to assess known CVD risk factors. Biological serum samples were collected annually. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry analysis was used to determine S-Cu levels. Adjusted odds ratios were calculated using multivariate conditional logistic regression models. All participants had S-Cu levels within the reference values, 750 μg/L to 1450 μg/L. Among men, but not among women, the mean S-Cu concentration was higher in cases 1014.1 μg/L than in controls 959.3 μg/L; (p = 0.004). In men, the multivariable-adjusted odds ratio for CVD was 2.36 (95% CI 1.07-5.20 for the comparison of the highest vs. the lowest quartile; p for trend = 0.02), in women, it was 0.43 (95% CI 0.11-1.70; p for trend = 0.165).

CONCLUSION

In older Spanish men with high cardiovascular risk, a significant association was observed between high S-Cu levels, but still within the reference values, and an increased risk of a first event of CVD. Our findings suggest a sex difference in CVD risk and S-Cu levels. To confirm this relationship and to analyze the differences observed between men and women, further studies are needed.

Association of the dietary copper intake with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality: A prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Copper (Cu) is a component that performs a crucial role in the normal function and development of the human body. Nonetheless, it is still largely unclear how Cu consumption in the diet relates to the risk for all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality.

METHODS

Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2001-2018 were used to conduct a prospective cohort study of individuals between the ages of 20 years and above. Regression coefficients and 95% confidence intervals for the link between dietary Cu consumption and all-cause and cardiovascular-related mortality were computed utilizing univariate and multivariate-adjusted Cox proportional hazards models.

RESULTS

A total of 197.9 million non-institutionalized American citizens were represented by the NHANES's 39,784 participants. The link between Cu in the diet and all-cause mortality was discovered to be non-linear in our restricted cubic spline regression models. When comparing the highest with the lowest quartile of Cu consumption in the diet, the weighted multivariate hazard ratios for all-cause mortality were 0.91 (0.83-0.99) for Q2, 0.88 (0.80-0.97) for Q3, and 0.86 (0.76-0.98) for Q4 (P for trend = 0.017). An identical trend was observed for cardiovascular mortality, but the association is not significant.

CONCLUSION

The most important discovery was that higher dietary Cu consumption was associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality. This trend was also consistent with that of cardiovascular-related mortality, but the association is not significant.

Bio-inspired nanoparticles mediated from plant extract biomolecules and their therapeutic application in cardiovascular diseases: A review

Nanoparticles (NPs) have gained recognition for diagnosis, drug delivery, and therapy in fatal diseases. This review focuses on the benefits of green synthesis of bioinspired NPs using various plant extract (containing various biomolecules such as sugars, proteins, and other phytochemical compounds) and their therapeutic application in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Multiple factors including inflammation, mitochondrial and cardiomyocyte mutations, endothelial cell apoptosis, and administration of non-cardiac drugs, can trigger the cause of cardiac disorders. Furthermore, the interruption of reactive oxygen species (ROS) synchronization from mitochondria causes oxidative stress in the cardiac system, leading to chronic diseases such as atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction. NPs can decrease the interaction with biomolecules and prevent the incitement of ROS. Understanding this mechanism can pave the way for using green synthesized elemental NPs to reduce the risk of CVD. This review delivers information on the different methods, classifications, mechanisms and benefits of using NPs, as well as the formation and progression of CVDs and their effects on the body.

Copper homeostasis and copper-induced cell death in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease and therapeutic strategies

Copper is a vital mineral, and an optimal amount of copper is required to support normal physiologic processes in various systems, including the cardiovascular system. Over the past few decades, copper-induced cell death, named cuproptosis, has become increasingly recognized as an important process mediating the pathogenesis and progression of cardiovascular disease (CVD), including atherosclerosis, stroke, ischemia-reperfusion injury, and heart failure. Therefore, an in-depth understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of cuproptosis in CVD may be useful for improving CVD management. Here, we review the relationship between copper homeostasis and cuproptosis-related pathways in CVD, as well as therapeutic strategies addressing copper-induced cell death in CVD.

The Association between Zinc and Copper Circulating Levels and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Adults: A Study of Qatar Biobank Data

Cardiometabolic risk (CMR) factors increase the likelihood of developing cardiovascular diseases (CVD). In Qatar, 24% of the total deaths are attributed to CVDs. Several nutritional disturbances have been linked to high risk of CVD. Many studies have discussed the effects of zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) on CMR factors; however, evidence has been controversial. This investigated the association between CMR factors and the status of Zn and Cu, in addition to Zn/Cu ratio. A total of 575 Qatari men and women aged 18 years and older were obtained from Qatar Biobank. Plasma levels of Zn and Cu were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Anthropometric data and CMR factors were determined using standard methods. Adjusted associations between trace minerals and CMR were estimated by logistic regression. Partial correlation was performed to test the strength of the associations. Zn was not strongly correlated (p-value ˃ 0.01) or significantly associated with CMR factors and metabolic syndrome (MetS). Cu levels correlated positively with body mass index (BMI) (0.23; p ˂ 0.001), pulse rate (PR) (0.18; p ˂ 0.001), total cholesterol (0.13; p = 0.01), and high-density lipoproteins (HDL) (0.27; p ˂ 0.001); and negatively with diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (−0.13; p = 0.01). High plasma Cu significantly decreased the risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) (0.121; p ˂ 0.001). Furthermore, Zn/Cu ratio positively correlated with waist circumference (0.13; p = 0.01), systolic blood pressure (0.13; p ˂ 0.01), and DBP (0.14; p ˂ 0.01); and negatively with BMI (−0.19; p ˂ 0.001), PR (−0.17; p ˂ 0.001), and HDL (−0.27; p ˂ 0.001). High Zn/Cu ratio increased the prevalence of low HDL (4.508; p ˂ 0.001) and MetS (5.570; p ˂ 0.01). These findings suggest that high plasma Cu levels are associated with a protective effect on DBP, HDL and MetS and that high plasma Zn/Cu ratio is associated with the risk of having low HDL and MetS.

Biomarkers of Zinc and Copper Status and Associated Factors in Outpatients with Ischemic and Non-Ischemic Heart Failure

Background: Few studies have explored the impact of ischemic and non-ischemic etiologies of heart failure and other factors associated with heart failure on zinc and copper status. This study examined zinc and copper status in 80 outpatients with ischemic (n = 36) and non-ischemic (n = 44) heart failure and associations with biodemographic, clinical, biochemical, and nutritional parameters.Materials: Biomarkers of plasma zinc and copper, copper-zinc ratio, 24-h urinary zinc excretion, ceruloplasmin, and dietary intake of zinc and copper were assessed. Plasma zinc and copper and urinary zinc were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).Results: Patients with ischemic heart failure showed lower dietary zinc intake and higher dietary copper intake (both p = 0.02). Zinc and copper in plasma, copper-zinc ratio, ceruloplasmin, and 24-h urinary zinc excretion showed no statistical differences between the groups (all p ≥ 0.05). An inverse association was found between age (β =-0.001; p = 0.005) and the use of diuretics (β = -0.047; p = 0.013) and plasma zinc. Copper levels in plasma (β = 0.001; p < 0.001), and albumin (β = 0.090; p<0.001) were directly associated with plasma zinc. A positive association was found between ceruloplasmin (β = 0.011; p < 0.001), gamma-glutamyl transferase (β = 0.001; p < 0.001), albumin (β = 0.077; p = 0.001), and high-sensitivity c-reactive protein (β = 0.001; p = 0.024) and plasma copper.Conclusion: Zinc and copper biomarkers in clinically stable patients with heart failure did not seem to be responsive to the differences in zinc and copper intake observed in this study, regardless of heart failure etiology. The predictors of plasma zinc and copper levels related to oxidative stress and inflammation should be monitored in heart failure clinical practice.

The relationships between serum copper levels and overweight/total obesity and central obesity in children and adolescents aged 6-18 years

OBJECTIVE

To explore the relationships between serum copper levels and overweight/total obesity and central obesity in children and adolescents.

METHODS

We included 2,000 children and adolescents from the 2011-2016 US National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. The multivariable linear model, logistic model and restricted cubic splines were adopted to assess the relationships. Models were adjusted for data release cycle, age, sex, race/ethnicity, ratio of family income to poverty, and dietary intakes of protein, total sugars, total fat, fiber, energy, calcium, vitamin D, vitamin C, and hours watch television or videos.

RESULTS

The prevalences of overweight/total obesity and central obesity were 37.38% and 33.40%, respectively. For per-quintile increment in serum copper levels, body mass index increased by 1.06 (0.79-1.33) (kg/m2) and waist circumference increased by 2.43 (1.58-3.27) (cm). The odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for overweight/total obesity and central obesity among participants with the highest quintile compared with those with the lowest quintile of serum copper levels were 5.46 (3.31-8.98) and 5.64 (3.31-9.58), respectively. The above-mentioned associations were not modified by age (children: 6-12 years, adolescents: 13-18 years) and sex. Dose-response analysis showed that the odds of overweight/total obesity and central obesity increased with increasing serum copper levels to a level of approximate 140 ug/dL where the association seemed to reach a plateau, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Serum copper levels were positively associated with body mass index and waist circumference, and elevated serum copper levels were associated with higher odds of overweight/total obesity and central obesity in children and adolescents.