Abstract
Serum levels of selenium, copper, and zinc were systematically determined in healthy subjects of the Lisbon population. The sample consisted of 183 blood donors of both genders who were divided into two age groups: 20–44 and 45–70 yr of age; relationships with gender, age, the lipid profile, and tobacco consumption were investigated. In the female group, the intake of oral contraceptives and pregnancy were considered for the youngest women, and hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) was taken into account for the oldest ones. Serum concentrations of these elements were in the same range as those found for populations of other European countries. Differences between genders were observed for the three elements studied, with serum selenium and zinc concentrations higher in men and copper levels higher in women. Age-dependent differences were found for selenium: The oldest subjects (regardless gender) presented the highest concentrations of selenium in serum as further demonstrated by the positive correlation with age. In both pregnant and contraceptive-using women, copper was greatly increased, confirming the influence of estrogen status and/or oral contraceptive intake on increased serum copper levels. However, in postmenopausal women, HRT did not significantly affect serum copper levels. Selenium, copper, and zinc status were not different between normolipidemic and hyperlipidemic subjects for the same gender and age range, but selenium levels tended to increase with hyperlipidemia when considering the whole group of subjects. With respect to the lifestyle, higher serum zinc levels were found in tobacco-consuming men. Albumin serum levels were similar for all considered subgroups, except for the pregnant women, for whom a decrease in this parameter was observed. The present study allowed one to obtain reference values for this healthy group of population, which will serve for a comparative study with groups having pathological conditions, such as cardiovascular disease.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
A. H. Zargar, N. A. Shah, S. R. Masoodi, et al., Copper, zinc, and magnesium levels in non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, Postgrad. Med. J. 74, 665–668 (1998).
C. B. Allan, G. M. Lacourciere, and T. C. Stadtman, Responsiveness of selenoproteins to dietary selenium, Annu. Rev. Nutr. 19, 1–16 (1999).
J. Nève and Y. Palmieri, First symposium on human health related aspects of selenium research in Europe, J. Trace Elements Med. Biol. 14, 116–121 (2000).
F. Ursini, S. Heim, M. Kiess, et al., Dual function of the selenoprotein PHGPx during sperm maturation, Science 285(5432), 1393–1396 (1999).
M. C. Linder. Copper, in Present Knowledge in Nutrition, E. E. Ziegler and L. J. Filer, Jr., eds., ILSI, Washington, DC, pp. 307–319 (1996).
D. A. Schuschke, Dietary copper in the physiology of the microcirculation, J. Nutr. 127, 2274–2281 (1997).
B. P. Yu, Cellular defenses against damage from reactive oxygen species, Physiol. Rev. 74, 139–162 (1994).
D. B. Milne, Copper intake and assessment of copper status, Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 67, 1041S-1045S (1998).
M. Hambidge, Human zinc deficiency, J. Nutr. 130, 1344S-1349S (2000).
P. J. Fraker, L. E. King, T. Laakko, et al. The dynamic link between the integrity of the immune system and zinc status, J. Nutr. 130(5S Suppl.), 1399S-1406S (2000).
L. E. Cauldfield, N. Zavaleta, and A. Figueiroa, Adding zinc to prenatal iron and folate supplements improves materanl and neonatal zinc status in a Peruvian population, Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 69(6), 1257–1263 (1999a)
L. E. Cauldfield, N. Zavaleta, A. Figueiroa, et al., Maternal zinc supplementation does not affect size at birth or pregnancy duration in Peru, J. Nutr. 129(8), 1563–1568 (1999b).
J. Versieck and R. Cornelis, Trace Elements in Plasma or Serum CRC, Boca Raton, FL (1989).
B. Lachili, H. Faure, J. Arnaud, et al., Blood micronutrients in Algeria, relationships with sex and age, Int. J. Vitam. Nutr. Res. 71, 111–116 (2001).
I. Bureau, R. A. Anderson, J. Arnaud, et al., Trace mineral status in post menopausal women: impact of hormonal replacement therapy, J. Trace Elements Med. Biol. 16, 9–13 (2002).
H. Robberecht and H. Deelstra, Factors influencing blood selenium concentration values: a literature review, J. Trace Elements Electrolytes Health Dis. 8, 129–143 (1994).
M. L. Pavão, V. Santos, A. Costa, et al., Selenium, copper and zinc in some Azorean populations, in New Aspects of Trace Element Research, M. Abdulla, M. Bost, S. Gamon, et al., eds., Smith-Gordon, London, Vol. 9, pp. 42–44 (1999).
J. E. Oldfield, Selenium World Atlas, Selenium-Tellurium Development Association, Grimbergen, Belgium (1999).
M. L. Pavão, C. Cordeiro, A. Costa, et al., Comparison of whole blood glutathione peroxidase activity, levels of selenium and lipid peroxidation in subjects of the fishing and rural communities of Rabo de Peixe village (S. Miguel Island, The Azores Archipelago, Portugal), Biol. Trace Elemetn Res. 92, 27–40 (2003).
R. Van Cauwenberg, H. Robberecht, H. Deelstra, et al., Selenium, concentration in serum of healthy Greek adults, J. Trace Elements Electrolytes Health Dis. 8, 99–109 (1994).
M. O. Faruque, M. R. Khan, M. M. Rahman, et al., Relationship between smoking and antioxidant nutrient status, Br. J. Nutr. 73(4), 625–632 (1995).
A. M. Viegas-Crespo, M. L. Pavão, O. Paulo, et al., Trace element status (Se, Cu, Zn) and serum lipid profile in Portuguese subjects of San Miguel Island from Azores' arquipelag, J. Trace Elements Med. Biol. 14, 1–5, (2000).
N. Jong, R. S. Gibson, C. D. Thomson, et al., Selenium and zinc status are suboptimal in a sample of older New Zealand women in a community based study, J. Nutr. 131(10), 2677–2684 (2001).
J. T. Salonen, R. Salonen, H. Korpela, et al., Serum copper and the risk of acute myocardial infarction: a prospective population study in men in eastern Finland, Am. J. Epidemiol. 134(3), 268–276 (1991).
A. M. Viegas-Crespo, J. Nève, M. L. Monteiro, et al., Selenium and lipid parameters in plasma of Portuguese subjects, J. Trace Elements Electrolytes Health Dis. 8(2), 119–122 (1994).
J. Nève, Selenium as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, J. Cardiovasc. Risk 3, 42–47 (1996).
T. R. Mahalingam, S. Viajayalakshmi, R. K. Prabhu, et al., Studies on some trace and minor elements in blood. A survey of the Kalpakkam (India) population. Part II: Reference values for plasma and red cells and correlation with coronary index, Biol. Trace Element Res. 57, 207–221 (1997).
E. Lopez, I. Villa Elizaga, J. I. Gost Garde, et al., Cardiovascular risk factors in relation to the serum concentrations of copper and zinc: epidemiological study on children and adolescents in the Spanish province of Navarra, Acta Paediat. 86, 248–253 (1997).
M. Iscra and W. Majewski, Copper and zinc concentrations and activities, of ceruloplasmin and superoxide dismutase in atherosclerosis obliterans, Biol. Trace Element Res. 73, 55–65 (2000).
H. Mussalo-Rauhamaa, M. Kantola, K. Seppanen, et al., Trends in the concentrations of mercury, copper, zinc and selenium in inhabitants of north-eastern Finnish Lapland in 1982–1991. A pilot study, Arctic Med. Res. 55(2), 83–91 (1996).
D. J. Malvy, A. Favier, H. Faure, et al., Effects of two years supplementation with natural antioxidants on vitamin and trace element status biomarkers: preliminary data of the SUVIMAX study, Cancer Detect. Prev. 25, 479–485 (2001).
J. Nève, S. Chamart, and L. Molle, Optimization of a direct procedure for determination of selenium in plasma and erythrocytes using Zeeman-effect atomic, absorption spectroscopy, in Trace Element Analytical Chemistry in Medicine and Biology, P. Bratter and P. Schramel, eds., Walter de Gruyter, Berlin, pp. 349–358 (1987).
J. Nève, L. Molle, M. Hanocq, et al., Erythrocytes and plasma trace element levels in clinical assessments. Biol. Trace Element Res. 5, 75–79 (1983).
F. C. Ballantyne, R. S. Clarck, H. S. Simpson, et al., HDL and LDL subfractions in myocardial infarction in control subjects, Metabolism 31, 433–437 (1982).
W. T. Friedewald, R. I. Levy, and D. S. Fredrickson, Estimation of the concentration of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in plasma without use of the preparative ultracentrifuge, Clin. Chem. 18(6), 499–502 (1972).
J. H. Zar, Biostatistical Analysis, 3rd ed., Prentice-Hall International, London (1996).
Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults. Executive Summary of the third report of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) expert panel on detection, evaluation and treatment of high blood cholesterol in adults (Adult Treatment Panel III), JAMA 285, 2486–2497 (2001).
A. M. Viegas-Crespo, I. Torres, M. L. Mira, et al., Selenium status in two populations from Madeira island with different dietary habits, in New Aspects of Trace Element Research, M. Abdulla, M. Bost, S. Gamon, et al., eds., smith-Gordon, London, pp. 89–91 (1999).
M. Navarro, H. Lopez, V. Perez, et al., Serum selenium levels during normal pregnancy in healthy Spanish women, Sci. Total Environ. 186(3), 237–242 (1996)
N. A. Golubkina and G. Alfthan, Selenium status of pregnant women and newborns in the former Soviet Union, Biol. Trace Element Res. 89(1), 13–23 (2002).
W.-C. Wang, O. Heinonein, A.-L. Makela, et al., Serum selenium, zinc and copper in Swedish and finnish Orenters. A comparative study, Analyst 120, 837–840 (1995).
M. K. Horwitt, C. C. Harvey, and C. R. Dahm, Relationship between levels of blood lipids, vitamins C, A and E, serum copper compounds, and urinary excretions of tryptophan metabolities in women taking oral contraceptive therapy, Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 4, 403–412 (1975).
F. Martín-Lagos, Navarro-Alarcón, C. Terrés-Martos, et al., Zinc and copper concentrations in serum from Spanish women during pregnancy, Biol. Trace Element Res. 61, 61–70 (1998).
H. Reyes, M. E. Báez, M. C. Gonzaléz, et al., Selenium, zinc and plasma copper levels in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, in normal pregnancies and in healthy individuals in Chile, J. Hepatol. 32, 542–549 (2000).
A. Wakatsuki, Y. Okatini, N. Ikenoue, et al., Different effects of oral conjugated equine estrogen and transdermal estrogen replacement therapy on size and oxidative susceptibility of low-density lipoprotein particles in postmenopausal women, Circulation 106, 1771–1776 (2002).
O. A. Lapido, Nutrition in pregnancy: mineral and vitamin supplements, Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 72, 280S-290S (2000).
N. Jong, A. B. Ampong Romano, and R. S. Gilbson, Zinc and iron status during pregnancy of Filipino women. Asia Pacific, J. Clin. Nutr. 11, 186–193 (2002).
Y. Ito, K. Suzuki, R. Sasaaki, et al., Mortality rates from cancer or all causes and SOD activity level and Zn/Cu ratio in peripheral blood: population based follow-up study, J. Epidemiol. 12, 14–21 (2002).
J. T. Salonen, R. Salonen, K. Seppaenen, et al., Relationship of serum selenium and antioxidants to plasma lipoproteins, platelet aggregability and prevalent ischaemic heart disease in Eastern Finnish men, Atherosclerosis 70, 155–165 (1988).
V. Ducros, F. Laporte, N. Belin, et al., Selenium determination in human plasma lipoprotein fractions by mass spectrometry analysis, J. Inorg. Biochem. 81, 105–109 (2000).
J. Nève, New approaches to assess selenium status and requirement, Nutr. Rev. 58, 363–369 (2000).
L. Zhong, E. S. J. Arnér, J. Ljung, et al., Rat and calf thioredoxin redutase are homologous to glutathione redutase with a carboxyl-terminal elongation containing a conserved catalytically active penultimate selenocysteine residue, J. Biol. Chem. 273, 8581–8591 (1998).
K. Klipstein-Grobusch, D. E. Grobbee, J. F. Koster, et al., Serum caeruloplasmin as a coronary risk factor in elderly: the Rotterdam Study, Br. J. Nutr. 81, 139–144 (1999).
M. A. Dubick and C. L. Keen, Influence of nicotine on tissue trace element concentrations and tissue antioxidant defense, Biol. Trace Element Res. 31(2), 97–109 (1991).
M. T. Leon-Espinosa de los Monteros, B. Gil Extremera, A. Maldonado Martin, et al., Zinc and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Rev. Clin. Exp. 200(12), 649–653 (2000).
A. Kocyigit, O. Erel, and S. Gur, Effects of tobacco smoking on plasma selenium, zinc, copper and iron concentrations and related antioxidative enzyme activities, Clin. Biochem. 34(8), 629–633 (2001).
A. M. Preston, Cigarette smoking-nutritional implications, Prog. Food. Nutr. Sci. 15(4), 183–217 (1991).
T. L. Croxton, G. G. Weinmann, R. M. Senior, et al., Future research directions in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 165(6), 838–844 (2002).
P. J. Fraker, L. E. King, T. Laakko, et al., The dynamic link between the integrity of the immune system and zinc status, J. Nutr. 130(5S Suppl.), 1399S-1406S (2000).
E. Bourdon, N. Loreau, and D. Blache, Glucose and free radicals impair the antioxidant properties of serum albumin, FASEB J. 13, 233–244 (1999).
W. Dröge, Aging-related changes in the thiol/disulfide redox state: implications for the use of thiol antioxidants, Exp. Gerontol. 37, 1333–1345 (2002).
B. Halliwell and J. M. Gutteridge, Free Radicals in Biology and Medicine, Claredon, Oxford (1995).
M. K. Cha and I. H. Kim, Glutathione-linked thiol peroxidase activity of human serum albumin: a possible antioxidant role of serum albumin in blood plasma, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 222, 619–625 (1996).
F. Kouoh, B. Gressier, M. Luyckx, et al., Antioxidant properties of albumin; effect on oxidative metabolism of human neutrophil granulocytes. Farmaco 54, 695–699 (1999).
A. B. Gorina, La Clínica y el Laboratorio, Marin Editorial, Barcelona (1981).
E. Sarandol, M. Dirican, and Z. Serdar, Oxidizability of apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins, levels of lipid peroxidation products and antioxidants in normal pregnancy, Arch. Gynecol. Obstet. [Epub ahead of print] (2003).
B. Pignatelli, C.-Q. Li, P. Boffetta, et al., Nitrated and oxidized plasma proteins in smokers and lung cancer patients, Cancer Res. 61, 778–784 (2001).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lopes, P.A., Santos, M.C., Vicente, L. et al. Trace element status (Se, Cu, Zn) in healthy portuguese subjects of Lisbon population. Biol Trace Elem Res 101, 1–17 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1385/BTER:101:1:01
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/BTER:101:1:01