Ageing-associated effects of a long-term dietary modulation of four trace elements in mice

Abstract

Trace elements (TEs) are essential for diverse processes maintaining body function and health status. The complex regulation of the TE homeostasis depends among others on age, sex, and nutritional status. If the TE homeostasis is disturbed, negative health consequences can result, e.g., caused by impaired redox homeostasis and genome stability maintenance. Based on age-related shifts in TEs which have been described in mice well-supplied with TEs, we aimed to understand effects of a long-term feeding with adequate or suboptimal amounts of four TEs in parallel. As an additional intervention, we studied mice which received an age-adapted diet with higher concentrations of selenium and zinc to counteract the age-related decline of both TEs. We conducted comprehensive analysis of diverse endpoints indicative for the TE and redox status, complemented by analysis of DNA (hydroxy)methylation and markers denoting genomic stability maintenance. TE concentrations showed age-specific alterations which were relatively stable and independent of their nutritional supply. In addition, hepatic DNA hydroxymethylation was significantly increased in the elderly mice and markers indicative for the redox status were modulated. The reduced nutritional supply with TEs inconsistently affected their status, with most severe effects regarding Fe deficiency. This may have contributed to the sex-specific differences observed in the alterations related to the redox status and DNA repair activity. Overall, our results highlight the complexity of factors impacting on the TE status and its physiological consequences. Alterations in TE supply, age, and sex proved to be important determinants that need to be taken into account when considering TE interventions for improving general health and supporting convalescence in the clinics.

Free Zinc as a Predictive Marker for COVID-19 Mortality Risk

“…Sex-dependent characteristics in trace-element homeostasis affecting serum levels are mainly known for selenium and copper [ 51 , 52 ]. So far, sex-specific differences in free serum zinc levels were observed in humans and mice [ 27 , 53 ]. This needs to be considered when identifying predictors for diseases, remarkably because male sex was suggested as a risk factor for COVID-19 morbidity and mortality [ 54 ].…”

The Nutritional Supply of Iodine and Selenium Affects Thyroid Hormone Axis Related Endpoints in Mice

“…Selenop concentration in serum was determined by affinity high performance liquid chromatography coupled to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (affinity-HPCL-ICP-MS/MS) as reported before [39].…”