Dietary and drinking water intake of essential trace elements in a typical Kashin-Beck disease endemic area of Tibet, China

Abstract

Background: Essential trace elements (ETEs), such as copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), selenium (Se), zinc (Zn), are very important elements for human health. Methods:In this study, 89 drinking water samples and 85 highland barleys were collected from 48 villages in 11 townships, and the average daily dose (ADD) of ETEs were calculated, in addition, health effects of ETEs to rural residents in Luolong County, a typical Kashin-Beck disease (KBD) endemic area in Tibet, were assessed. Results:The mean concentrations of Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Se, Zn in drinking water were 0.278 ± 0.264 μg•kg −1 , 0.766 ± 0.312 μg•kg −1 , 0.411 ± 0.526 μg•kg −1 , 0.119 ± 0.223 μg•kg −1 , 0.155 ± 0.180 μg•kg −1 , and 0.804 ± 1.112 μg•kg −1 , respectively; and mean concentrations of Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Se and Zn in highland barley were 3.550 ± 0.680 mg•kg −1 , 81.17 ± 38.14 mg•kg −1 , 14.03 ± 1.42 mg•kg −1 , 0.350 ± 0.200 mg•kg −1 , 0.0028 ± 0.0056 mg•kg −1 , and 23.58 ± 3.10 mg•kg −1 , respectively. The ADD of Cu in the study area was appropriate; the ADD of Fe and Mn in each township were higher than the maximum oral reference dose recommended by the National Health Commission of China, indicating that Fe and Mn had non-carcinogenic health risks; the ADD of Mo and Zn in 36.36% and 54.55% of the townships exceeded the maximum oral reference dose; and 72.73% of the townships had insufficient ADD of Se. The ADD of Mo, Cu and Se in different townships was significantly correlated with the prevalence of KBD.Conclusions: Therefore, in order to prevent and control the prevalence of KBD and ensure the health of local residents, it is necessary to reduce the intake of high concentrations of Fe, Mn and Zn in diet, as well as increase the intake of Mo, Cu, especially Se.

Selenium and Zinc Intakes of Staple Grains and Their Correlation with Urine Selenium and Zinc in the Tibetan Rural Residents along the Yarlung Zangbo River

“…These values were slightly lower than tsampa in non-Kashin-Beck-disease areas on the north bank of the Yarlung Zangbo River [42] (27.11 ± 3.44 mg•kg −1 ). They were not significantly different from the zinc concentration of Zha et al [43] in the Kashin-Beck disease areas of Tibet (23.58 ± 3.10 mg•kg −1 ). The average concentration of zinc in self-produced flour was 9.78 mg•kg −1 , ranging from 3.94-28.96 mg•kg −1 , which was lower than that of Guo et al [42] on both sides of the Yarlung Zangbo River (10.97 ± 4.67 mg•kg −1 in non-diseased areas on the north bank; 12.79 ± −1 1).…”

“…These values were slightly lower than tsampa in non-Kashin-Beck-disease areas on the north bank of the Yarlung Zangbo River [42] (27.11 ± 3.44 mg•kg −1 ). They were not significantly different from the zinc concentration of Zha et al [43] in the Kashin-Beck disease areas of Tibet (23.58 ± 3.10 mg•kg −1 ).…”

Research Progress of Drinking Water and Trace Elements in KBD Area

“…In some studies, many other trace elements including Sr, F, Fe, Cu, Mn, Co, and Zn are also associated with KBD; and Shi et al (2017) found that there were significant differences in the concentrations of certain trace elements (such as Se, Fe-Zn and Mo) in drinking natural water between KBD endemic areas and non-endemic areas. A study conducted in 2022 tested the intake of essential trace elements in diet and drinking water in typical KBD endemic areas found that the oral intakes of iron, manganese, and zinc in the whole township in the study area exceeded and slightly exceeded, respectively, and the average daily intakes of molybdenum, copper and especially selenium were generally low (Zha, An, Gao, et al, 2022). It has been suggested that arsenic, selenium, and thallium are three types of metal elements of high concern in parts of China, as a lack or excess of these elements in the diet can lead to a series of endemic diseases (Li, Xiao, & Zheng, 2012).…”

“…Low levels of selenium and iodine in the diet are considered to be the most important environmental factors contributing to disease (Xie, Liao, Yue, et al, 2018). In the past few decades, selenium and iodine supplementation to prevent KBD has been carried out in the endemic areas of China, and the results have been reported in many articles (Zha, An, Gao, et al, 2022;Yu , Qi, Shang, et al, 2019). Until now, it has not been determined whether selenium and iodine are initiating or conditioning factors in the pathogenesis of KBD.…”

“…Similarly, sampled and analyzed the selenium content in the surface water of the Kaschin-beck disease area, and the results also showed that the selenium content in the surface water of the Kaschin-beck disease area was low. According to the 2022 study, the intake of essential trace elements in diet and drinking water in KBD endemic areas was tested and the results showed that selenium intake was generally low (Zha, An, Gao, et al, 2022). According to the China Health Statistics Yearbook 2020, more than 17,000 patients and more than 100 million residents are at risk of developing KBD (Ning, Wang, Ren, et al, 2013).…”