The association between serum copper concentrations and elevated blood pressure in US children and adolescents: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011–2016

Abstract

Background Copper is an essential trace metal with potential interest for cardiovascular effects. Few studies have explored the association between copper and blood pressure in children and adolescents. Method We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 1242 children and adolescents aged 8–17 years who participated in the 2011 to 2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Using 2017 American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines, elevated blood pressure (EBP) was defined as a mean systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure (BP) ≥ 90th percentile for sex, age, and height for children aged 1–12 years and systolic BP ≥ 120 mmHg or diastolic BP ≥ 80 mmHg for adolescent age 13–17 years. Mean serum copper was 114.17 μg/dL. Results After multiple adjustments, dose–response analyses revealed that EBP was associated with progressively higher serum copper concentrations in a nonlinear trend. In comparison with the lowest quartile of serum copper concentrations, the adjusted odds of EBP for the highest quartile was 5.26 (95% confidence interval, 2.76–10.03). Conclusion Our results suggested that high serum copper concentrations were significantly associated with EBP in US children and adolescents.

Exposure to multiple heavy metals is associated with hypertension: A cross-sectional study in China

“…Our results suggested that Cu concentrations are associated with hypertension in different age groups. These results are consistent with previous research on the correlation between Cu exposure and blood pressure in children and adolescents(Chen et al, 2021;Liu et al, 2021;Yao et al, 2020) and pregnancy-induced hypertension in early pregnancy(Lewandowska et al, 2019). Cu is reportedly a cofactor of the endogenous antioxidant enzyme SOD, which is the rst line of defense against oxidative stress and an effective response to oxidative damage; furthermore, it maintains the redox balance of other antioxidant enzymes(Choi et al, 2013;McIntyre et al, 1999).…”

“…For example, hypertension is more likely to occur in men with high plasma levels of Cu and older patients. Additionally, non-Hispanic black individuals have higher average plasma Cu concentrations than other ethnic groups (Liu et al, 2021). In a large cross-sectional study, plasma Cd levels were positively correlated with blood pressure in women who had never smoked (Martins et al, 2021).…”

Copper/Zinc Ratio in Childhood and Adolescence: A Review

“…Instead of that, if stress exceeds the threshold or if the activation of protective mechanisms fails, cells will trigger alternative signaling pathways that ultimately lead to apoptosis, necrosis, pyroptosis, or autophagic cell death [ 44 ]. A high fraction of free Cu in serum can be harmful due to its significant oxidation-reduction potential through the generation of reactive oxygen species in Fenton and Haber–Weiss-type reactions [ 45 ]. Zn serves as an antioxidant, and changes in its concentrations may impact the homeostasis of OS [ 43 ].…”

Copper-promoted hypercontraction of rat aortic rings and its mitigation by natural molecules

“…Although Cu toxicity is a rare incident, humans are exposed to high doses of Cu through cigarette smoking, contraceptive pills, and its release into the environment from Cu smelters, pesticides, and water pipelines made up of copper [7][8][9]. Patients with atherosclerosis showed elevated copper levels in serum than in normal people and the concentration was found to be higher in patients with a greater degree of atherosclerosis [10]. A study conducted on the Iranian population showed the association of both low (< 80ug/dl) and high (> 130 ug/dl) serum copper concentration with hypertension and both systolic and diastolic BP tend to increase with accumulating Cu levels in serum and thus increasing the risk of hypertension development [11].…”