Correlations between Elemental Status and Indicators of Oxidative Metabolism in Residents of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug with Its Poor-Quality Water Treatment

Abstract

Introduction: Trace elements found in natural drinking water can play a key role in making up the chemical composition of the human body in the area of residence. Objective: To study the relationship between indicators characterizing the elemental status and oxidative metabolism of residents of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug and poor-quality tap water treatment. Materials and methods: Hair concentrations of iron, manganese, calcium, magnesium, zinc, and selenium were established in 155 regional residents using atomic emission and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Contents of the products of lipid peroxidation (lipid hydroperoxide and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances) and antioxidant defense of the body (total antioxidant capacity and thiol status) were determined in blood serum using test kits. The oxidative stress index was calculated as lipid hydroperoxide × thiobarbituric acid reactive substances / total antioxidant capacity × thiol status. Results: The residents of the northern Russian cities notorious for poor-quality water treatment have elevated hair levels of Fe and Mn (p < 0.001) and a decreased Se concentration (p = 0.012) combined with a statistically higher level of lipid hydroperoxides, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, oxidative stress index (p < 0.001), and a low level of antioxidant defense of the body (p < 0.001–0.002). We established a direct correlation between selenium levels in hair and indicators of antioxidant defense status (r = +0,784 ... r = +0,531) and an inverse correlation with lipid peroxidation parameters (r = –0,679 ... r = –0,465). Accumulation of iron and manganese in the human body is closely related to activation of lipid peroxidation (r = +0,472 ... r = +0,413) and suppression of the antioxidant defense status (r = –0,521 ... r = –0,379). Conclusion: The observed relationships between the parameters of oxidative metabolism give evidence of a weakening of antioxidant protection and activation of lipid peroxidation in the population of the cities of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug supplied with poor-quality tap water.