Relationship between Copper, Zinc, and Copper-to-Zinc Ratio in Hair and Severity of Coronary Artery Disease according to the SYNTAX Score

Coronary artery disease (CAD) continues to be a foremost contributor to global mortality, and the quest for modifiable risk factors could improve prophylactic strategies. Recent studies suggest a significant role of zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) deficiency in atheromatous plaque formation. Furthermore, hair was previously described as a valuable source of information on elemental burden during the 6-8 week period before sampling. The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of correlation between the extent of CAD evaluated with the SYNergy Between PCI With TAXUS and the Cardiac Surgery (SYNTAX) score with Cu and Zn content in hair samples, as well as with the Cu/Zn ratio in a cohort of 130 patients. Our findings describe a statistically significant inverse correlation between Cu content and the Cu/Zn ratio in hair samples and the extent of CAD. In contrast, no significant correlation was found between Zn content and the extent of CAD. Considering the scarcity of existing data on the subject, the analysis of hair samples could yield a novel insight into elemental deficiencies and their potential influence on CAD extent.

Association between pre-diagnostic dietary copper, zinc, and copper-to-zinc ratio and severity of ovarian cancer

BACKGROUND

The impact of dietary trace elements intake on ovarian cancer (OC) severity is unknown.

OBJECTIVE

We firstly explore the relationship between dietary copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and copper-to-zinc (Cu/Zn) ratio and severity of OC.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 701 women from the OC follow-up study between 2015 and 2020. Dietary information was collected by a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). The severity information of OC including age at diagnosis, histological type, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage, and histopathologic grade was ascertained from medical records. Logistic regression model was used to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of aforementioned associations.

RESULTS

Among 701 participants, the number of patients age at diagnosis older than 50 were 443 (63.2%). The number of patients diagnosed as serous, III-IV stage, and poorly differentiation OC were 477 (68.05%), 336 (47.93%), and 597 (85.16%), respectively. In addition, compared with the lowest tertile intake, higher possibility of non-serous OC was associated with the pre-diagnosis dietary Cu (OR = 2.39, 95% CI = 1.28-4.47, p trend < 0.05) and Cu/Zn ratio (OR = 2.06, 95% CI = 1.26-3.39, P trend < 0.05) in the highest tertile intake. The risk of poorly differentiation OC at diagnosis was significant inversely related to dietary Cu intake (OR = 0.40, 95% CI = 0.18-0.88, P trend < 0.05). Besides, the results of subgroup analyses were consistent with the main findings but not all of them showed statistical significance.

CONCLUSION

Pre-diagnostic dietary Cu and Cu/Zn ratio were contributed to reducing the severity of OC at diagnosis, especially for the risk of serous OC and poorly differentiation OC.