Are Heavy Metal Exposure and Trace Element Levels Related to Metabolic and Endocrine Problems in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome?

Aydoğan Kırmızı D., Başer E., Türksoy V. A., Kara M., Yalvaç E. S., Göçmen A. Y.

BIOLOGICAL TRACE ELEMENT RESEARCH, vol.198, no.1, pp.77-86, 2020 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 198 Issue: 1
  • Publication Date: 2020
  • Doi Number: 10.1007/s12011-020-02220-w
  • Journal Name: BIOLOGICAL TRACE ELEMENT RESEARCH
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Agricultural & Environmental Science Database, Aqualine, Aquatic Science & Fisheries Abstracts (ASFA), BIOSIS, CAB Abstracts, Chemical Abstracts Core, EMBASE, Food Science & Technology Abstracts, MEDLINE, Pollution Abstracts, Veterinary Science Database
  • Page Numbers: pp.77-86
  • Keywords: Polycystic ovary syndrome, Heavy metal, Antimony, Cadmium, Insulin resistance, Zinc, REPRODUCTIVE HORMONES, ZINC SUPPLEMENTATION, INSULIN-RESISTANCE, OXIDATIVE STRESS, NATIONAL-HEALTH, DOUBLE-BLIND, CADMIUM, ASSOCIATION, LEAD, WOMEN
  • Yozgat Bozok University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the relationship between the metabolic and endocrinological pathologies in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and the levels of arsenic, chromium, cadmium, lead, mercury, antimony, zinc, and copper to evaluate the relationship of these toxic metals with inflammatory/oxidative parameters. This study included a total of 154 patients (84 with PCOS, 70 healthy volunteers). Metabolic and endocrine parameters and arsenic, chromium, cadmium, lead, mercury, antimony, zinc, and copper serum levels of the patients were compared between the groups. Considering the action mechanism of toxic metals, serum malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), serum total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), oxidative stress index (OSI), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (HsCRP) levels were determined. Serum TAS (p = 0.002), OSI (p = 0.006), SOD (p = 0.006), zinc (p = 0.010), and copper (p = 0.030) values were statistically lower whereas TOS (p = 0.008), MDA (p < 0.001), HsCRP (p < 0.001), TNF alpha (p < 0.001), antimony (p < 0.001), cadmium (p < 0.001), lead (p < 0.001), and mercury (p < 0.001) levels were significantly higher in the PCOS group than those determined in the control group. Antimony was positively correlated with fasting glucose (FG) and HOMA-IR while cadmium, in addition to FG and HOMA-IR, positively correlated with insulin and lead had a positive correlation only with FG (p < 0.05). Also, these three heavy metals correlated positively with some oxidative system and inflammatory parameters and negatively with the antioxidant system parameters (p < 0.05). In conclusion, heavy metal exposures in PCOS may be related to insulin resistance and hirsutism through oxidative and inflammatory mechanisms. This approach can be used to identify the risky patient group and to develop new treatment modalities.