Association of Serum Heavy Metals and Trace Element Concentrations with Reproductive Hormone Levels and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in a Chinese Population

Biol Trace Elem Res. 2015 Sep;167(1):1-10. doi: 10.1007/s12011-015-0294-7. Epub 2015 Mar 12.

Abstract

To investigate the serum concentrations of 11 heavy metals and trace elements in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). A total of 369 women (including 96 patients with PCOS) were studied. No differences with statistical significance in the median barium, cadmium, lead, arsenic, chromium, gallium, strontium, and vanadium concentrations were observed between the patients with PCOS and the control group. Serum nickel (Ni) (P = 0.000) and copper (Cu) (P = 0.000) levels were significantly higher, but zinc (Zn) levels (P = 0.009) were significantly lower in patients with PCOS compared with the control group. The results of the association between metal levels and hormone levels indicated that Ni, Cu, and Zn may play a role in the pathogenesis of PCOS related with reproductive hormone levels. The findings in the present study should be investigated with further trials in order to obtain new insights into PCOS.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Asian People
  • China
  • Copper / blood
  • Estradiol / blood
  • Female
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone / blood
  • Hormones / blood*
  • Humans
  • Linear Models
  • Luteinizing Hormone / blood
  • Metals, Heavy / blood*
  • Nickel / blood
  • Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / blood*
  • Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / ethnology
  • Progesterone / blood
  • Prolactin / blood
  • Testosterone / blood
  • Trace Elements / blood*
  • Zinc / blood

Substances

  • Hormones
  • Metals, Heavy
  • Trace Elements
  • Testosterone
  • Progesterone
  • Estradiol
  • Copper
  • Nickel
  • Prolactin
  • Luteinizing Hormone
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone
  • Zinc