Srnovršnik Tinkara, Pinter Bojana, Horvat Milena, Snoj Tratnik Janja, Falnoga Ingrid, Mazej Darja, Verdenik Ivan, Virant-Klun Irma
Divison for Women's Healthcare-Šiška Unit, Community Health Centre Ljubljana, Metelkova ulica 9, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Vrazov Trg 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Metabolites. 2025 Jan 29;15(2):79. doi: 10.3390/metabo15020079.
There are still limited or lacking data on the association of trace elements (TEs) with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This case-control study aimed to determine levels of essential TEs (manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), selenium (Se), molybdenum (Mo)) and non-essential TEs (arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), lead (Pb)) in urine, whole blood, and serum to investigate a possible association with kidney and liver function, endocrine and metabolic parameters, and environmental and lifestyle sources of potential exposure and provide possible recommendations. In our case-control study, women with PCOS ( = 35) and healthy controls ( = 35) underwent clinical and ultrasonographic examination, filled in questionnaires targeting general, lifestyle, and environmental information, and provided fasting venous blood samples and first morning urine for biochemical, hormonal, and TE analysis. Multiple linear regression models were used to evaluate the association between TE levels and data obtained through questionnaires. In women with PCOS, lower Mo levels in whole blood ( = 0.024) and serum ( = 0.011) and higher serum Cu levels ( = 0.026) were detected when compared to healthy controls. Results of this study show that amendments in Cu and Mo levels might be related to altered kidney and liver function and disrupted hormonal balance in PCOS women. Cu levels positively correlated with leukocyte count. There was a negative correlation of Mo levels with proteinuria and luteinizing hormone levels. Regarding liver function, Mo negatively correlated with urinary bilirubin levels, and there was a positive association with alanine and aspartate aminotransferase, respectively. Dietary supplement consumption and certain diet habits appeared to be important predictors of exposure to Cu (beef consumption) or Mo (cereal and boiled vegetable consumption) and modify Mo and Cu levels in women. Concentrations of the chemical elements Mo and Cu in biological samples of women appear to be related to PCOS and nutrition. To our knowledge, this is a novel finding for Mo. Additional research is needed to provide more insights into the causality of the PCOS relationship with Mo and Cu in humans.
关于微量元素（TEs）与多囊卵巢综合征（PCOS）之间的关联，目前的数据仍然有限或缺乏。本病例对照研究旨在测定尿液、全血和血清中必需微量元素（锰（Mn）、铜（Cu）、锌（Zn）、硒（Se）、钼（Mo））和非必需微量元素（砷（As）、镉（Cd）、汞（Hg）、铅（Pb））的水平，以研究其与肾脏和肝脏功能、内分泌和代谢参数以及潜在暴露的环境和生活方式来源之间的可能关联，并提供可能的建议。在我们的病例对照研究中，患有PCOS的女性（n = 35）和健康对照者（n = 35）接受了临床和超声检查，填写了针对一般、生活方式和环境信息的问卷，并提供空腹静脉血样本和晨尿用于生化、激素和TE分析。使用多元线性回归模型来评估TE水平与通过问卷获得的数据之间的关联。与健康对照者相比，在患有PCOS的女性中，检测到全血（P = 0.024）和血清（P = 0.011）中的Mo水平较低，而血清Cu水平较高（P = 0.026）。本研究结果表明，Cu和Mo水平的改变可能与PCOS女性的肾脏和肝脏功能改变以及激素平衡紊乱有关。Cu水平与白细胞计数呈正相关。Mo水平与蛋白尿和促黄体生成素水平呈负相关。关于肝脏功能，Mo与尿胆红素水平呈负相关，分别与丙氨酸和天冬氨酸转氨酶呈正相关。膳食补充剂的摄入和某些饮食习惯似乎是接触Cu（牛肉消费）或Mo（谷物和水煮蔬菜消费）的重要预测因素，并会改变女性体内的Mo和Cu水平。女性生物样本中化学元素Mo和Cu的浓度似乎与PCOS和营养有关。据我们所知，这是关于Mo的一个新发现。需要更多的研究来深入了解PCOS与人类体内Mo和Cu之间关系的因果性。
