The concentrations of essential/toxic elements in serum of COVID-19 patients are not directly related to the severity of the disease

Author, as appears in the article.: Marques, Montse; Iftimie, Simona; Camps, Jordi; Joven, Jorge; Domingo, Jose L

Department: Ciències Mèdiques Bàsiques; Medicina i Cirurgia

URV's Author/s: Camps Andreu, Jorge / Domingo Roig, José Luis / Iftimie Iftimie, Simona Mihaela / Joven Maried, Jorge / Marquès Bueno, Montserrat

Keywords: Trace elements; Toxic elements; Serum samples; Sars-cov-2; Pandemics; Metalloids; Mercury; Lead; Humans; Essential elements; Covid-19 patients; Covid-19; Cadmium; toxic elements; serum samples; essential elements; covid-19 patients

Abstract: Background: In recent months, the current COVID-19 pandemic has generated thousands of studies directly or indirectly related with this disease and/or the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 causing the infection. On August 22, 2022, the database PUBMED included 287,639 publications containing the term COVID-19. However, in spite of the importance of trace elements in human health, including the immune system, data on the levels of metals/metalloids in COVID-19 patients is very limited. Methods: The concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Fe, Mg, Mn, Pb, Se, V and Zn were determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) in 126 serum samples of individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2, as well as in 88 samples of non-infected individuals. Participants were divided into four groups: i) individuals COVID-19 positive (COVID-19 +) with an asymptomatic infection course; ii) individuals suffering mild COVID-19; iii) individuals suffering severe COVID-19, and iv) individuals COVID-19 negative (COVID-19-) (control group). The occurrence of the analyzed metals/metalloids was evaluated along with the biochemical profile, including blood cell counts, lipids, proteins and crucial enzymes. Results: Serum levels of Mg, V, Cr, Cu, Cd, and Pb were higher in COVID-19 positive patients than those in the control group. Although no significant differences were observed between the different groups of patients, the concentrations of Cd, Pb, V and Zn showed a tendency to be higher in individuals with severe COVID-19 than in those showing mild symptoms or being asymptomatic. Arsenic and Hg were rarely detected, regardless if the subjects were infected by SARS-CoV-2, or not. The current results did not show significant differences in the levels of the rest of analyzed elements according to the severity of the disease (asymptomatic, mild and severe). Conclusions: In spite of the results here obtained, we highlight the need to reduce the exposure to Cd, Pb and V to minimize the potential adverse health outcomes after COVID-19 infection. On the other hand, although a protective role of essential elements was not found, Mg and Cu concentrations were higher in severe COVID-19 patients than in non-infected individuals.

Thematic Areas: Saúde coletiva; Química; Odontología; Nutrição; Molecular medicine; Medicina veterinaria; Medicina iii; Medicina ii; Medicina i; Matemática / probabilidade e estatística; Interdisciplinar; Inorganic chemistry; Farmacia; Engenharias iv; Engenharias ii; Engenharias i; Endocrinology & metabolism; Ciências biológicas iii; Ciências biológicas ii; Ciências biológicas i; Ciências ambientais; Ciências agrárias i; Ciência de alimentos; Biotecnología; Biodiversidade; Biochemistry & molecular biology; Biochemistry; Astronomia / física

licence for use: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/es/

Author's mail: simonamihaela.iftime@urv.cat; jorge.camps@urv.cat; montserrat.marques@urv.cat; jorge.joven@urv.cat; joseluis.domingo@urv.cat

Record's date: 2025-03-03

Paper version: info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Link to the original source: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0946672X23000366?via%3Dihub

Licence document URL: https://repositori.urv.cat/ca/proteccio-de-dades/

Paper original source: Journal Of Trace Elements In Medicine And Biology. 78 127160-

APA: Marques, Montse; Iftimie, Simona; Camps, Jordi; Joven, Jorge; Domingo, Jose L (2023). The concentrations of essential/toxic elements in serum of COVID-19 patients are not directly related to the severity of the disease. Journal Of Trace Elements In Medicine And Biology, 78(), 127160-. DOI: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2023.127160

Article's DOI: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2023.127160

Entity: Universitat Rovira i Virgili

Journal publication year: 2023

Publication Type: Journal Publications