Trace element correlations with age and sex in human fingernails

Chaudhary, Kiran; Ehmann, W. D.; Rengan, K.; Markesbery, William R.

doi:10.1007/bf02036472

Cited by 43 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…However, concentrations of other elements in nails do not consistently decrease with age. For example, zinc has been found to be positively correlated with age (Chaudhary et al, 1995;Rodushkin & Axelsson, 2000), and studies relating selenium content of nails with age reveal mixed results and no apparent trends (Ovaskainen et al, 1993;Lipsky et al, 2004;van den Brandt et al, 1993;Swanson et al, 1990;Hunter et al, 1990;Garland et al, 1995;Baskett et al, 2001). Therefore, it is possible that the association is due to changes in arsenic metabolism with age, or changes in exposures.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Toenails as a Biomarker of Inorganic Arsenic Intake From Drinking Water and Foods

Slotnick

Meliker

AvRuskin

et al. 2007

Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A

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Toenails were used recently in epidemiological and environmental health studies as a means of assessing exposure to arsenic from drinking water. While positive correlations between toenail and drinking-water arsenic concentrations were reported in the literature, a significant percentage of the variation in toenail arsenic concentration remains unexplained by drinking-water concentration alone. Here, the influence of water consumption at home and work, food intake, and drinking-water concentration on toenail arsenic concentration was investigated using data from a case-control study being conducted in 11 counties of Michigan. The results from 440 controls are presented. Log-transformed drinking-water arsenic concentration at home was a significant predictor (p < .05) of toenail arsenic concentration (R2 = .32). When arsenic intake from consumption of tap water and beverages made from tap water (microg/L arsenic x L/d = microg/d) was used as a predictor variable, the correlation was markedly increased for individuals with >1 microg/L arsenic (R2 = .48). Increased intake of seafood and intake of arsenic from water at work were independently and significantly associated with increased toenail arsenic concentration. However, when added to intake at home, work drinking-water exposure and food intake had little influence on the overall correlation. These results suggest that arsenic exposure from drinking-water consumption is an important determinant of toenail arsenic concentration, and therefore should be considered when validating and applying toenails as a biomarker of arsenic exposure.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Toenails as a Biomarker of Inorganic Arsenic Intake From Drinking Water and Foods

Slotnick

Meliker

AvRuskin

et al. 2007

Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A

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“…The diagnostic usefulness of hair analysis is confirmed by many authors, who have proven the correlation between the concentration of basic elements in hair and their concentrations in the body, both in the physiological and pathological states [8][9][10]. Nails also indicate metal body burden [11]. The hair and nails in which trace minerals are sequestered and/or stored can be used to effectively monitor the highest priority toxic trace metals [12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Level of Trace Elements (Copper, Zinc, Magnesium and Selenium) and Toxic Elements (Lead and Mercury) in the Hair and Nail of Children with Autism

Priya

Geetha

2010

Biol Trace Elem Res

276

145

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Autism is a multi-factorial pathology observed in children with altered levels of essential and elevated levels of toxic elements. There are also studies reporting a decrease in nutritional trace elements in the hair and nail of autistic children with healthy controls; moreover, bioelements have been shown to play an important role in the central nervous system. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to assess the levels of trace elements like copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), magnesium (Mg), and selenium (Se) and toxic elements like mercury (Hg), and lead (Pb) in the hair and nail samples of autistic children and to evaluate whether the level of these elements could be correlated with the severity of autism. The subjects of the study were 45 autistic children with different grades of severity (low (LFA), medium (MFA), and high (HFA) functioning autism) according to Childhood Autism Rating Scale, n = 15 children in each group and 50 healthy children (age and sex matched). The boys and girls ratio involved in this study was 4:1, and they were 4-12 years of age. The study observed a valid indication of Cu body burden in the autistic children. The children with different grades of autism showed high significance (p < 0.001) in the level of copper in their hair and nail samples when compared to healthy controls. The level of Cu in the autistic children could be correlated with their degree of severity (more the Cu burden severe is autism). The study showed a significant elevation (p < 0.001) in the levels of toxic metals Pb and Hg in both hair and nail samples of autistic children when compared to healthy control group. The elevation was much pronounced in LFA group subjects when compared among autistic groups MFA and HFA. The levels of trace elements Mg and Se were significantly decreased (p < 0.001) in autistic children when compared to control. The trace element Zn showed significant variation in both hair and nails of LFA group children when compared to control group and other study groups. The significant elevation in the concentration of Cu, Pb, and Hg and significant decrease in the concentration of Mg and Se observed in the hair and nail samples of autistic subjects could be well correlated with their degrees of severity.

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“…Thompson and colleagues found significantly higher mercury levels in the amygdala, the nucleus basalis Meynert and non-significantly higher levels in the hippocampus of 14 AD patients compared with age-matched controls [104], while another study found significantly higher mercury levels in microsomes from AD brains [105]. One study reported higher mercury levels in brains and lower mercury levels in nails of 3 AD patients compared to 10 controls but due to the small patient number cannot be considered conclusive [106]. Four studies found either no significant differences or slightly and non-significantly lower levels in AD brains compared with controls [107][108][109][110].…”

Section: Mercury Exposure Accumulation and Excretion In Ad Patientsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does Inorganic Mercury Play a Role in Alzheimer's Disease? A Systematic Review and an Integrated Molecular Mechanism

Mutter¹,

Curth

Naumann³

et al. 2010

JAD

147

113

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Abstract. Mercury is one of the most toxic substances known to humans. It has been introduced into the human environment and has also been widely used in medicine. Since circumstantial evidence exists that the pathology of Alzheimer's disease (AD) might be in part caused or exacerbated by inorganic mercury, we conducted a systematic review using a comprehensive search strategy. Studies were screened according to a pre-defined protocol. Two reviewers extracted relevant data independent of each other. One thousand and forty one references were scrutinized, and 106 studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Most studies were case control or comparative cohort studies. Thirty-two studies, out of 40 testing memory in individuals exposed to inorganic mercury, found significant memory deficits. Some autopsy studies found increased mercury levels in brain tissues of AD patients. Measurements of mercury levels in blood, urine, hair, nails, and cerebrospinal fluid were inconsistent. In vitro models showed that inorganic mercury reproduces all pathological changes seen in AD, and in animal models inorganic mercury produced changes that are similar to those seen in AD. Its high affinity for selenium and selenoproteins suggests that inorganic mercury may promote neurodegenerative disorders via disruption of redox regulation. Inorganic mercury may play a role as a co-factor in the development of AD. It may also increase the pathological influence of other metals. Our mechanistic model describes potential causal pathways. As the single most effective public health primary preventive measure, industrial, and medical usage of mercury should be eliminated as soon as possible.

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Trace element correlations with age and sex in human fingernails

Cited by 43 publications

References 11 publications

Toenails as a Biomarker of Inorganic Arsenic Intake From Drinking Water and Foods

Toenails as a Biomarker of Inorganic Arsenic Intake From Drinking Water and Foods

Level of Trace Elements (Copper, Zinc, Magnesium and Selenium) and Toxic Elements (Lead and Mercury) in the Hair and Nail of Children with Autism

Does Inorganic Mercury Play a Role in Alzheimer's Disease? A Systematic Review and an Integrated Molecular Mechanism

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