Urinary trace elements in association with premature ovarian insufficiency and reproductive hormones in a Chinese population

Chunming Li; LinJuan Ma; Tongyun Qi; Wuye Pan; Yizhou Huang; Jie Luo; Xiaoqing Ye; Yibing Lan; Jing Liu; Wenchao Zhou; Fei Ruan; Jianhong Zhou

doi:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2021.112731

Urinary trace elements in association with premature ovarian insufficiency and reproductive hormones in a Chinese population

Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2021 Dec 1:225:112731. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2021.112731. Epub 2021 Sep 3.

Authors

Chunming Li¹, LinJuan Ma¹, Tongyun Qi¹, Wuye Pan², Yizhou Huang¹, Jie Luo¹, Xiaoqing Ye³, Yibing Lan¹, Jing Liu², Wenchao Zhou⁴, Fei Ruan⁵, Jianhong Zhou⁶

Affiliations

¹ Women's Reproductive Health Key Laboratory of Zhejiang Province, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310006, China.
² MOE Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Ecosystem Health, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
³ College of Medical Technology, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China.
⁴ Women's Reproductive Health Key Laboratory of Zhejiang Province, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310006, China; Cixi People's Hospital Medical and Health Group, China.
⁵ Women's Reproductive Health Key Laboratory of Zhejiang Province, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310006, China. Electronic address: 5202014@zju.edu.cn.
⁶ Women's Reproductive Health Key Laboratory of Zhejiang Province, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310006, China. Electronic address: zhoujh1117@zju.edu.cn.

PMID: 34488147
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2021.112731

Abstract

Homeostasis disturbance of trace elements has been linked to adverse reproductive consequences, including premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) in women, but limited evidence has been reported so far. This case-control study evaluated the associations between 5 common urinary trace elements [copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), Iron (Fe), Selenium (Se), and zinc (Zn)] and the odds for POI. Urinary concentrations of these 5 metals and serum levels of POI-related reproductive hormones of 169 cases and 209 healthy controls were measured. The urinary levels of Cu and Se in women with POI were significantly higher than those in the controls. The positive associations were observed between Cu levels and the odds of POI [for the medium tertile: odds ratio (OR) = 3.79, 95% CI: 1.98-7.27, p < 0.001; for the highest tertile: OR = 3.85, 95% CI: 2.00-7.41, p < 0.001]. The highest tertile of urinary Se levels was associated with increasing POI risk (for the highest tertile: OR = 2.54, 95% CI: 1.38-4.70, compared with the lowest tertile, p for trend = 0.001). In POI patients, urinary concentrations of Zn and Fe were negatively associated with serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). Our findings suggested that higher exposure levels of Cu and Se might lead to an increased risk of POI.

Keywords: Copper; Premature ovarian insufficiency; Selenium; Trace elements; Women.

MeSH terms

Case-Control Studies
China
Female
Follicle Stimulating Hormone
Humans
Primary Ovarian Insufficiency*
Trace Elements*

Substances

Trace Elements
Follicle Stimulating Hormone