title: Metals in plasma of nonagenarians and centenarians living in a key area of longevity.
abstract: The concentration of calcium (Ca), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn) and selenium (Se) in plasma of 76 nonagenarians (mean age, 89.0±6.3 years), 64 centenarians (mean age, 101±1 years) and 24 middle-aged subjects as controls (mean age 61.2±1.1 years), was determined by sector field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. All the subjects lived in Sardinia, an Italian island, that has the higher prevalence of centenarians than in other European countries. A comparison among the three classes of age showed a significant depletion of Ca, Co, Fe, Mn and Se (all p<0.001) in nonagenarians and centenarians with respect to controls. In particular, the geometric mean (GM) values of Ca, Co, Fe, Mn and Se were: 94.1 μg/ml, 0.46 ng/ml, 1314 ng/ml, 2.47 ng/ml and 111 ng/ml in controls; 87.6 μg/ml, 0.22 ng/ml, 815 ng/ml, 1.07 ng/ml and 88.9 ng/ml in nonagenarians; 87.0 μg/ml, 0.29 ng/ml, 713 ng/ml, 1.27 ng/ml and 81.9 ng/ml in centenarians. The highest inverse relationship with age was observed for Fe (p<0.001; ρ=-0.352) and Se (p<0.001; ρ=-0.417). This trend was also observed when data were sorted by gender. On the other hand, Cu and Mg levels in plasma remained substantially unchanged during aging. As regards Cu, it was significantly higher in females than in males in controls (GM, 1294 ng/ml vs. 1077 ng/ml; p=0.012), in nonagenarians (GM, 1216 ng/ml vs. 1081 ng/ml; p=0.011) as well as in centenarians (GM, 1226 ng/ml vs. 1152 ng/ml; p=0.045) and in hypertensive subjects with respect to healthy people (GM, 1215 ng/ml vs. 1129 ng/ml; p=0.021). These data can be used to enhance knowledge and support the research on: i) metals involved in aging in areas with high rates of human longevity; ii) variables (gender, lifestyle habits and health status) as critical determinants in aging; and iii) mineral intake and supplementation at older age affecting the healthy aging.
authors.affiliation: Italian National Institute for Health, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Forte
authors.affiliation: Associazione "Isola dei Centenari", Sassari, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Deiana
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pasella
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baralla
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Occhineri
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mura
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Madeddu
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Muresu
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sotgia
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zinellu
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Carru
authors.affiliation: Italian National Institute for Health, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bocca
authors.affiliation: Associazione "Isola dei Centenari", Sassari, Italy; Dept. of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy. Electronic address: proflucadeiana@gmail.com.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Deiana
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood*; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003035:Cobalt / Q000097:blood; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood; D007558:Italy; D008136:Longevity / Q000502:physiology*; D008274:Magnesium / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008345:Manganese / Q000097:blood; D008670:Metals / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012643:Selenium / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D003035:Cobalt; D008345:Manganese; D003300:Copper; D007501:Iron; D012643:Selenium; D008274:Magnesium; D002118:Calcium
keywords: Aging; Human biomonitoring; Metals; Plasma