Nail Antioxidant Trace Elements Are Inversely Associated with Inflammatory Markers in Healthy Young Adults

Antioxidant intake may be linked to a reduction of the chronic low-grade inflammatory state related to obesity and several accompanying disorders such as insulin resistance, cardiovascular diseases, and metabolic syndrome. So, the aim of this study was to evaluate the potential associations between nail trace elements and several indicators in healthy young adults, emphasizing on the putative effect of antioxidant trace element intake on inflammation-related marker concentrations. This study enrolled 149 healthy young adults, whose anthropometrical and blood pressure values as well as lifestyle features were analyzed. Fasting blood samples were collected for the biochemical and inflammation-related measurements (C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-18, and homocysteine). Nail samples were collected for the analysis of selenium, zinc, and copper concentrations. Our results showed that nail selenium was negatively associated with IL-18; nail zinc concentrations were inversely related to circulating IL-6, IL-18, and TNF-alpha, whereas nail copper (Cu) and Cu/selenium values were negatively correlated with homocysteine levels and the Cu/zinc ratio was unaffected. In conclusion, nail content on some trace elements related to antioxidant defense mechanisms seems to be associated with several inflammation-related markers linked to chronic diseases in apparently healthy young adults, which is of interest to understand the role of antioxidant intake.