Relationship between serum metal and metalloid levels with metabolic risk markers in overweight and obese women

The objective of the present study was to assess serum metal and metalloid levels in patients with overweight and obesity, as well as evaluation of its association with metabolic risk markers. Material and methods. A total of 82 adult women with overweight and obesity (BMI > 25), as well as 88 lean (18.5 < BMI < 25) controls were examined. Assessment of serum metal levels was performed using inductively-coupled plasma mass-spectrometry. Serum was also used for evaluation of markers of lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, as well as inflammation and oxidative stress. Results. The obtained data demonstrate that patients with obesity were characterized by at herogenic dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, systemic inflammation, as well as oxidative stress. A significant increase in alanine aminotransferase, Y-glutamyl transferase, and cholinesterase activity was observed. Serum copper and aluminium levels in overweight and obese subjects exceeded the control values by 12% and 17%, respectively. Copper concentration was also considered as a positive predictor of increased BMI (ß=0.391; p=0.008) in regression models, being also negatively interrelated with total antioxidant activity (ß=-0.322; p=0.032) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (ß=-0.241; p=0.024) after adjustment for anthropometric parameters. At the same time, serum vanadium (ß=-0.576; p=0.027) and chromium (ß=-0.682; p=0.036) were inversely associated with fasting glucose concentration. Zinc level was considered as the most significant predictor of total antioxidant activity (ß=0.643; p=0.003). Conclusion. Therefore, serum metal and metalloid levels in patients with obesity are associated with pathogenetic mechanisms of metabolic syndrome including insulinresistance, at herogenic dyslipidemia, inflammation, and oxidative stress.

copper, aluminium, metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia