OBJECTIVE: To explore the levels of blood manganese concentration in pregnant women in 1st and 2nd trimester and the associated factors in three counties of northern China. METHODS: We carried out a cross-sectional investigation in three counties of northern China in 2010. Two hundred and seventy three pregnant women whose gestational age was less than 28 weeks were recruited, their demographic characteristics and information on exposure to indoor air pollution from coal combustion and dietary during one month before pregnancy till the date of investigation were collected with questionnaires by face-to-face interview, their fasting venous whole blood samples were collected with vacuum blood collection tube containing heparin lithium at the Maternal and Child Health Hospital in the three counties. Their blood manganese concentrations were measured with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Nonparametric tests were used to compare the concentrations among the groups and multivariate unconditional Logistic regression model was used to adjust the confounding factors. RESULTS: The geometric mean of blood manganese of the women was 16.78 (95%CI: 16.14-17.45) μg/L, and the median (interquartile range) was 16.59 (13.68-20.44) μg/L. According to the reference range of general healthy adult female's manganese concentration in the whole blood 3.39-20.67 μg/L, the proportion of manganese concentration lower than normal, normal, higher than normal were 0%, 76.6% and 23.4%, respectively. Medians of blood manganese concentrations among the women in Yushe, Dai and Xianghe were 17.51 (13.96-22.04), 16.92 (13.78-21.45) and 15.43 (12.25-17.56) μg/L, respectively (P<0.05), and multivariate analysis found that the risk of higher than normal in Yushe County was 6.15 (95%CI: 1.21-31.35) times the risk in Xianghe county. Blood manganese concentrations were higher in women who were farmers, had lower income per month, and consumed more vinegar and less peppers, pork, beef and mutton during the month before investigation (all P<0.05), the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) between these factors and high blood manganese concentration were not statistically significant No statistical associations were found between blood manganese levels and indoor air pollution from coal combustion for both of crude odds ratrio (COR) and AOR (P>0.05). CONCLUSION The blood manganese concentration among pregnant women in the three counties is similar to the women in some other studies abroad and quite different from the findings of several domestic researches. The risk of blood manganese concentration higher than normal in Yushe county was higher than Xianghe county. The relationships between high manganese concentration and exposure to indoor air pollution from coal combustion or dietary need further research in the future.
Adult ; China ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Diet ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Manganese/blood* ; Odds Ratio ; Pregnancy ; Red Meat ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Although it has been proposed that trace minerals have anti-oxidative functions and are related to the control of blood pressure, only a limited number of studies directly address the issue. Thus, the purpose of our study was to assess the intake of copper and manganese, which are trace minerals, and to clarify their relation to blood pressure. In a cross-sectional study, the blood pressure of 640 normotensive adults, from 19 to 69 year-old (320 males and 320 females), was measured, and its correlation with the intake of copper and manganese was assessed using a 24-hour dietary recall method. The average value of the blood pressure was 126.4/80.2 mmHg for the males and 117.8/75.8 mmHg for the females. The daily copper intake was 1.3 mg/day for the males and 1.2 mg/day for the females. For manganese, the daily intake was 4.2 mg/day for the males and 4.1 mg/day for the females. Although the copper intake of all subjects showed a positive correlation with the systolic and diastolic blood pressures, there was no significant correlation when the potential confounding factors were adjusted. The manganese intake of the male subjects had a significantly negative correlation with the systolic blood pressure after adjusting for gender, age, body mass index, and energy intake. In conclusion, the daily manganese intake of the normotensitve adults showed a significantly negative correlation with the systolic blood pressure indicating a possibility of a positive effect of manganese on blood pressure.
Adult* ; Blood Pressure* ; Body Mass Index ; Copper* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Energy Intake ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Manganese* ; Minerals

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether blood cadmium concentration is elevated in iron-deficient infants. METHODS: Blood cadmium and serum ferritin concentrations, serum iron/total iron-binding capacity (Fe/TIBC) and complete blood counts were measured in 31 iron deficient and 36 control infants, aged 6-24 months. All 31 iron-deficient infants received iron supplementation for 1-6 months. RESULTS: Blood cadmium concentrations were measured again in 19 of the iron deficient infants after their ferritin levels returned to the normal range. The mean blood cadmium concentration did not differ significantly in iron deficient and control infants. The mean blood cadmium concentration in the 19 iron-deficient infants was not significantly altered by ferric hydroxide treatment, while their hemoglobin, ferritin, and Fe/TIBC (%) concentrations were significantly higher after than before treatment. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that iron deficiency does not increase blood cadmium concentrations in infants, in contrast with the effects of iron deficiency on manganese and lead concentrations.
Anemia ; Blood Cell Count ; Cadmium* ; Ferritins ; Humans ; Infant* ; Iron* ; Manganese ; Reference Values

Manganese (Mn) is an essential micronutrient for human and plays an important role as a cofactor for several enzymes involving fatty acid synthesis, hepatic gluconeogenesis, and oxidative stresses. Also, Mn intake status has been reported to have beneficial effects in reversing metabolic dysfunction including obesity and nonalcoholic steatosis which is linked to mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stresses, however, information on dietary Mn intake in Koreans are limited. Hence we investigated the relationship between dietary Mn intake and antioxidant defense factors in healthy and obese subjects. Total of 333 healthy subjects were recruited in the study and were assigned to one of three study groups: a normal group (18.5-22.9), a overweight group (23-24.9), and a obesity group (>25) according to their body mass index (BMI). We assessed Mn intakes (24-hr recall method) and several indicators for antioxidative defenses such as glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and urinary malonaldehyde (MDA). Results showed that body weight and blood pressure of study subjects were increased in dependent of their BMI (p < 0.01). However dietary Mn intakes and oxidative stress biomarkers (GSH, GPx, and MDA) were not significantly different by groups defined by BMI. In correlation analysis adjusting for age, sex and energy intake, dietary Mn intake of the subjects in different BMI categories were not significantly correlated with GSH, GPx, MDA and showed a weak or no association with these oxidative stress markers. In conclusion dietary Mn intake at least in this study has a little or no influence on markers of oxidative status in both healthy and obese subjects.
Adult* ; Biomarkers* ; Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index* ; Body Weight ; Energy Intake ; Gluconeogenesis ; Glutathione ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; Humans ; Malondialdehyde ; Manganese* ; Micronutrients ; Obesity ; Overweight ; Oxidative Stress*

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of low level manganese (Mn) exposure on the serum neuroendocrine hormones levels of the welders.

METHODSThe exposure group consisted of 41 male welders, 40 male workers without exposing to harmful agents served as controls. The serum contents of prolactin (PRL), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone (TST) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) of 81 subjects were detected by chemiluminescence immunoassay.

RESULTSThe geometric mean value of airborne Mn concentrations was 0.03 mg/m(3) (0.003 - 0.519 mg/m(3)) in the welding circumstances. The levels of Mn in red blood cells (RBCs) and urinary Mn of the exposure group were significantly higher than those of control group (P < 0.01). The contents of serum LH and TSH of the exposure group were 2.89 ± 0.69 mIU/ml and 1.45 ± 0.56 uIU/ml, which were significantly lower than those (3.82 ± 1.61 mIU/ml and 2.19 ± 1.28 µIU/ml) of control group (P < 0.01). The serum contents of LH, FSH and TSH of the group exposed to Mn for < 5 years were significantly lower than those of the control group, The serum TST level of the group exposed to Mn for < 5 years was significantly higher than those of the control group and group exposed to Mn for 5 ∼ years, the serum FSH level of the group exposed to Mn for < 5 years was significantly lower than that of the group exposed to Mn for 10 years (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The serum contents of LH and TSH of the group exposed to Mn for 5 ∼ years were significantly lower than those of the control group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The serum contents of PRL, LH and TSH of the group exposed to Mn for 10 years were significantly lower than those of the control group (P < 0.05). There was negative correlation between blood (RBC) Mn and urinary Mn (r = -0.310, P < 0.05), also there was negative correlation between serum PRL and serum TST (r = -0.409, P < 0.01), the positive correlation between serum LH and serum FSH was observed (r = 0.361, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe results of present study showed that the long exposure to low level of Mn may decrease the levels of serum PRL, LH and TSH in workers occupationally exposed to Mn, which can influence the metabolism of neuroendocrine hormones to certain extent.

Adult ; Air Pollutants, Occupational ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Humans ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Male ; Manganese ; Occupational Exposure ; Prolactin ; blood ; Testosterone ; blood ; Thyrotropin ; blood ; Welding

OBJECTIVETo explore the biomarkers of manganese exposure by measuring the manganese (Mn) and iron (Fe) level as well as the mRNA change of Hepcidin, divalent metal-ion transporter-1 (DMT1) and Parkin-2, one of genes related to Parkinson disease in body fluid and brain tissues of rat.

METHODSMale Sprague-Dawley rats were administered (i.p) either MnCl2 solution (6 mg Mn/kg) or the same volume saline, 5 times per week and for 4 weeks. Graphic furnace Atom Absorption Spectrum (AAS) was applied to measure the concentration of Mn and Fe in brain tissue and body fluids. Meanwhile Hepcidin, DMT1 and Parkin-2 mRNA expression were detected by real-time RT-PCR.

RESULTSMn concentration in erythrocytes of rats was the 86.9 folds of that in control; No significant change was found in plasma. However the trend and range of Mn increase in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was the same as that in brain tissue including striatum, cortex, hippocampus and choroid plexus. Meanwhile Fe concentration in brain tissue of Mn exposed rats was also higher than that of control, whose trend was as same as that in CSF. However iron concentration in plasma decreased. The real-time RT-PCR data also showed that Hepcidin mRNA expression in Mn-exposed rat decreased 56% in blood, which was in line with its expression in cortex(67%). Similarly, Parkin-2 mRNA expression decreased both in blood (42%) and in striatum. However DMT1 mRNA expression increase 38% in striatum of Mn-exposed rats but decreased in blood.

CONCLUSIONHepcidin and Parkin-2 mRNA expression in blood might be serves as the effective biomarkers following manganese exposure, certainly which needs to be further explored.

Animals ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cation Transport Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Corpus Striatum ; metabolism ; Environmental Exposure ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Hepcidins ; Iron ; blood ; cerebrospinal fluid ; Male ; Manganese ; blood ; cerebrospinal fluid ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases ; genetics ; metabolism

Adult ; Biomarkers ; blood ; urine ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Manganese ; blood ; urine ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the biomarker of manganese exposure by analyzing the relationship between manganese exposure and concentration in some biomaterials.

METHODSThe air samples were collected through the individual air sample. According to the manganese levels in the air, workers were assigned to control group, low concentration group and high concentration group, and manganese in the hair, urine, serum, blood cell and saliva from different group were measured respectively. The correlations between concentration of external manganese exposure and manganese concentrations in biomaterials, and years of employment and concentrations in biomaterials were analyzed.

RESULTSIn the high concentration group, saliva manganese was 32.17 µg/L, hair manganese was 37.39 mg/kg, urine manganese was 2.50 µg/L, plasma manganese was 29.61 µg/L, blood manganese was 14.49 µg/L, were higher than those in the control group (10.40 µg/L, 1.60 mg/kg, 0.77 µg/L, 10.30 µg/L, 4.56 µg/L respectively) (P < 0.01). The manganese concentration in the saliva was significantly correlated with airborne manganese concentration (r = 0.649, P < 0.01), with the years of employment (r = 0.404, P < 0.01), with the total exposure of manganese (r = 0.342, P < 0.01), with the manganese concentration of plasma (r = 0.303, P < 0.01) and with the manganese concentration in blood cells (r = 0.359, P < 0.01), respectively.

CONCLUSIONSThe concentration of manganese in saliva could work as a biomarker of manganese internal exposure.

Adult ; Air Pollutants, Occupational ; analysis ; Biomarkers ; analysis ; Hair ; chemistry ; Humans ; Manganese ; analysis ; blood ; urine ; Manganese Poisoning ; prevention & control ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; prevention & control ; Saliva ; chemistry ; Young Adult

Manganese ; blood ; Spectrophotometry, Atomic ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the levels and differences of plasma selenium, manganese, iron, copper, zinc among oldest elderly in longevity areas in China.

METHODS446 oldest elderly including 208 centenarians, 238 aged 90 and over, who lived in Xiayi county of Henan province (110 persons), Zhongxiang city of Hubei province (111 persons), Mayang county of Hunan province (60 persons), Sanshui district of Guangdong province (113 persons), Yongfu county of Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region (52 persons) in China, were selected. The contents of plasma selenium, manganese, iron, copper, zinc were detected and compared among these elderly who were classified into different genders, different regions and different age groups.

RESULTSIn oldest elderly, the median (inter-quartile range) of content of plasma selenium was 1.44 (0.91) micromol/L, content of manganese was 0.54 (0.94) micromol/L, content of iron was 69.17 (102.85) micromol/L, content of copper was 20.19 (8.73) micromol/L, content of zinc was 31.66 (32.51) micromol/L. Contents of plasma selenium of oldest elderly in Xiayi, Zhongxiang, Mayang, Sanshui, Yongfu region were 1.46 (0.66), 1.30 (0.80), 1.06 (0.51), 2.39 (1.53) and 1.35(0.55) micromol/L; contents of plasma manganese were 0.56 (0.51), 1.40 (1.11), 0.35 (0.71), 0.44 (0.55) and 0.15 (0.21) micromol/L; contents of plasma iron were 86.77 (86.87), 141.42 (101.83), 38.88 (36.28), 31.38 (46.19) and 79.64 (75.34) micromol/L; contents of plasma copper were 22.16 (8.11), 19.46 (9.26), 21.36 (12.38), 18.12 (6.74) and 21.47 (7.85) micromol/L; contents of plasma zinc were 36.85 (26.18), 36.59 (35.94), 39.98 (56.91), 25.05 (24.92) and 16.74 (16.81) micromol/L. Contents of plasma trace elements among oldest elderly in different longevity areas were significantly different (F values were 29.76, 38.75, 47.18, 11.51 and 13.47, P values were all less than 0.05). Contents of plasma trace elements in different gender groups (contents of plasma selenium were 1.38 (0.83) micromol/L in male and 1.45 (0.91) micromol/L in female; contents of plasma manganese were 0.52 (0.95) and 0.54 (0.91) micromol/L; contents of plasma iron were 69.23 (104.06) and 69.11 (101.05) micromol/L; contents of plasma copper were 20.28 (8.72) and 20.06 (8.76) micromol/L; contents of plasma zinc were 28.39 (32.58) and 31.85 (34.26) micromol/L) were not significantly different (t(Se) = -1.82, P = 0.07; t(Mn) = 0.64, P = 0.52; t(Fe) = 0.65, P = 0.52; t(Cu) = -1.90, P = 0.06; t(Zn) = -0.96, P = 0.34). The contents of plasma selenium, iron, copper in centenarians were higher than those aged 90 and over (contents of plasma selenium were 1.63 (0.94) micromol/L and 1.30 (0.82) micromol/L, contents of plasma iron were 112.63 (119.78) and 60.13 (58.43) micromol/L, contents of plasma copper were 21.07 (9.03) and 18.81 (8.86) micromol/L, F value were 41.99, 27.32, 24.45, P values were less than 0.01). Content of plasma manganese in centenarians was lower than those aged 90 and over (0.44 (0.76) and 0.64 (0.93) micromol/L, F = 10.76, P < 0.01). No significant differences were detected in plasma zinc between concentration and those aged 90 and over (31.78 (34.06) and 31.11 (33.85) micromol/L; F = 1.32, P = 0.25).

CONCLUSIONThe concentrations of plasma selenium, manganese, iron, copper and zinc were high in oldest elderly in the longevity areas. The contents of plasma selenium, iron, copper increased with age.

Aged, 80 and over ; China ; Copper ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Iron ; blood ; Longevity ; Male ; Manganese ; blood ; Plasma ; chemistry ; Selenium ; blood ; Trace Elements ; blood ; Zinc ; blood