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Serum Macroelement and Microelement Concentrations in Patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: a Cross-Sectional Study

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Abstract

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine diseases. However, its pathogenesis is unclear. We aim to explore the potential relationships between serum macroelements/microelements and PCOS. A total of 1137 women were involved in the current study. PCOS was defined according to ESHRE/ASRM, and complete blood samples were collected. Serum macroelements (calcium and magnesium) and microelements (copper, zinc, and iron) were assayed through atomic absorption spectrophotometry. PCOS patients had significantly higher copper concentrations than patients without PCOS (P < 0.001). By contrast, PCOS patients had lower serum calcium levels than patients without PCOS (P < 0.001). No significant differences were observed in the levels of serum zinc, magnesium, and iron between PCOS and non-PCOS patients. PCOS patients with acne had higher magnesium levels than those without acne (P = 0.020), and PCOS patients with hirsutism had lower magnesium levels than those without hirsutism (P = 0.037). High serum copper and low calcium levels may be correlated with PCOS. Magnesium concentrations are correlated with acne and hirsutism in PCOS patients. These results provide clues to explore the mechanism of PCOS and guidance for element treatments in PCOS patients.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by grants from the Science and Technology Development Program of Guangxi (No 1298003-6-4). We would like to thank Guangxi Population and Family Planning Research Center for sample support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Experimental Centre of Medical Sciences, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, 530000, China

    Muyan Li, Chunlei Lin, Qiaoying Huang, Danqing Lei & Yanling Hu

  2. Guangxi Reproductive Medical Research Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China

    Yuanyuan Tang

  3. Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China

    Yanling Hu

  4. Guangxi Colleges and Universities Key Laboratory of Biological Molecular Medicine Research, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China

    Yanling Hu

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  1. Muyan Li
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Correspondence to Danqing Lei or Yanling Hu.

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This study was funded by the Science and Technology Development Program of Guangxi (grant number 1298003-6-4).

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Muyan Li and Yuanyuan Tang contributed equally to this work

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Li, M., Tang, Y., Lin, C. et al. Serum Macroelement and Microelement Concentrations in Patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: a Cross-Sectional Study. Biol Trace Elem Res 176, 73–80 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-016-0782-4

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