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      Hair aluminum status in Croatia

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          Abstract

          Abstract. Aluminum (Al) is an omnipresent non-essential trace element in the human environment; the risk of environmental Al exposure to the general population is on the rise world-wide. We have already shown that hair aluminum (H Al ) is a reliable long-term biological indicator of exposure to aluminum by the human body whereas whole blood is a short-term biological indicator. The aim of this paper is to assess the population Al exposure risk in the Croatian general population by analyzing H Al in 1,073 apparently healthy persons ( ♂ n  = 339 and ♀ n  = 734) with the ICP MS; H Al median (µg∙g –1 ) was higher in men (7.64) than in women (6.18) (p < 0.01, χ 2 -test). We used the logistic bioassay sigmoid curve of median derivatives to analyze the natural distribution of Al in hair. The physiologically tolerable range, i.e., the linear part of the sigmoid curve, was 1.83 – 20.9 µg∙g –1 in women and 2.39 – 27.7 µg∙g –1 in men. Hair Al concentrations below or above this tolerable range indicate negligible low or excessively high Al exposure, respectively. Our results indicate that currently ~ 6% of Croatian men and women are overexposed to aluminum to a various degree.


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          Most cited references10

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          Selenium, selenoproteins and human health: a review.

          Selenium is of fundamental importance to human health. It is an essential component of several major metabolic pathways, including thyroid hormone metabolism, antioxidant defence systems, and immune function. The decline in blood selenium concentration in the UK and other European Union countries has therefore several potential public health implications, particularly in relation to the chronic disease prevalence of the Western world such as cancer and cardiovascular disease. Ten years have elapsed since recommended dietary intakes of selenium were introduced on the basis of blood glutathione peroxidase activity. Since then 30 new selenoproteins have been identified, of which 15 have been purified to allow characterisation of their biological function. The long term health implications in relation to declining selenium intakes have not yet been thoroughly examined, yet the implicit importance of selenium to human health is recognised universally. Selenium is incorporated as selenocysteine at the active site of a wide range of selenoproteins. The four glutathione peroxidase enzymes (classical GPx1, gastrointestinal GPx2, plasma GPx3, phospholipid hydroperoxide GPx4)) which represent a major class of functionally important selenoproteins, were the first to be characterised. Thioredoxin reductase (TR) is a recently identified seleno-cysteine containing enzyme which catalyzes the NADPH dependent reduction of thioredoxin and therefore plays a regulatory role in its metabolic activity. Approximately 60% of Se in plasma is incorporated in selenoprotein P which contains 10 Se atoms per molecule as selenocysteine, and may serve as a transport protein for Se. However, selenoprotein-P is also expressed in many tissues which suggests that although it may facilitate whole body Se distribution, this may not be its sole function. A second major class of selenoproteins are the iodothyronine deiodinase enzymes which catalyse the 5'5-mono-deiodination of the prohormone thyroxine (T4) to the active thyroid hormone 3,3'5-triiodothyronine (T3). Sperm capsule selenoprotein is localised in the mid-peice portion of spermatozoa where it stabilises the integrity of the sperm flagella. Se intake effects tissue concentrations of selenoprotein W which is reported to be necessary for muscle metabolism. It is of great concern that the health implications of the decline in Se status in the UK over the past two decades have not been systematically investigated. It is well recognised that dietary selenium is important for a healthy immune response. There is also evidence that Se has a protective effect against some forms of cancer; that it may enhance male fertility; decrease cardiovascular disease mortality, and regulate the inflammatory mediators in asthma. The potential influence of Se on these chronic diseases within the European population are important considerations when assessing Se requirement.
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            Zinc, copper, and blood pressure: Human population studies

            Summary Copper and zinc are essential trace biometals that regulate cardiovascular homeostasis, and dysregulation of these metals has been linked to vascular diseases, including hypertension. In this article, we review recent human population studies concerning this topic, focusing on: 1) the relationship between blood pressure and levels of zinc and copper; 2) correlations between trace metals, the renin-angiotensin system, obesity, and hypertension; 3) the relationship between environmental metal pollution and the development of hypertension; and 4) methods commonly employed to assay zinc and copper in human specimens. Moreover, based on the findings of these studies, we suggest the following topics as the basis for future investigations: 1) the potential role of environmental metal pollution as a causal factor for hypertension; 2) metal profiles within specific pathogenic subsets of patients with hypertension; 3) standardizing the experimental design so that the results between different studies are more comparable; and 4) the requirement for animal experiments as complementary approaches to address mechanistic insight that cannot be studied in human populations.
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              Brain uptake, retention, and efflux of aluminum and manganese.

              My colleagues and I investigated the sites and mechanisms of aluminum (Al) and manganese (Mn) distribution through the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Microdialysis was used to sample non-protein-bound Al in the extracellular fluid (ECF) of blood (plasma) and brain. Brain ECF Al appearance after intravenous Al citrate injection was too rapid to attribute to diffusion or to transferrin-receptor-mediated endocytosis, suggesting another carrier-mediated process. The brain:blood ECF Al concentration ratio was 0.15 at constant blood and brain ECF Al concentrations, suggesting carrier-mediated brain Al efflux. Pharmacological manipulations suggested the efflux carrier might be a monocarboxylate transporter (MCT). However, the lack of Al (14)C-citrate uptake into rat erythrocytes suggested it is not a good substrate for isoform MCT1 or for the band 3 anion exchanger. Al (14)C-citrate uptake into murine-derived brain endothelial cells appeared to be carrier mediated, Na independent, pH independent, and energy dependent. Uptake was inhibited by substrate/inhibitors of the MCT and organic anion transporter families. Determination of (26)Al in rat brain at various times after intravenous (26)Al suggested a prolonged brain (26)Al half-life. It appears that Al transferrin and Al citrate cross the BBB by different mechanisms, that much of the Al entering brain ECF is rapidly effluxed, probably as Al citrate, but that some Al is retained for quite some time. Brain influx of the Mn(2+) ion and Mn citrate, determined with the in situ brain perfusion technique, was greater than that attributable to diffusion, suggesting carrier-mediated uptake. Mn citrate uptake was approximately 3-fold greater than the Mn(2+) ion, suggesting it is a primary Mn species entering the brain. After Mn(2+) ion, Mn citrate, or Mn transferrin injection into the brain, brain Mn efflux was not more rapid than that predicted from diffusion. The BBB permeation of Al and Mn is mediated by carriers that may help regulate their brain concentrations.
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                Author and article information

                Journal
                Trace Elements and Electrolytes
                TE
                Dustri-Verlgag Dr. Karl Feistle
                0946-2104
                September 12 2016
                Article
                10.5414/TEX01450
                13d99804-3e8d-44ab-a997-199566f24fb4
                © 2016
                History

                Endocrinology & Diabetes,General medicine,Medicine,Gastroenterology & Hepatology,Nutrition & Dietetics
                hair,
risk assessment,aluminum,
median derivatives,population exposure

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