Association between common cold and serum levels of copper and zinc: NHANES Insights

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Created On: 26/04/2024

This study investigated potential connections between recent head or chest cold occurrences and serum levels of copper and zinc.

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Key take away

Elevated serum copper levels, rather than zinc, exhibit an association with occurrences of head and chest cold.

Background

This study investigated potential connections between recent head or chest cold occurrences and serum levels of copper and zinc.

Method

Utilizing data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES), the connections between recent head or chest cold occurrences and serum levels of copper and zinc were evaluated in a cohort of n = 2795 NHANES participants from 2011 to 2016.

Result

Upon comparing volunteers who experienced head or chest colds in the last thirty days with those who did not, no profound differences emerged in serum levels of either trace element. Notably, those having recent infections exhibited slightly elevated copper levels [121.56 (2.69) µg/dl] as opposed to those without [117.755 (1.04) µg/dl; p = 0.119].

In multivariate logistic regression models adjusting for confounding factors, higher copper levels were substantially linked with elevated odds of prior head/chest colds [Odds ratio (OR): 1.93 (Confidence Interval: 1.07-3.47), p = 0.028]. However, no vital associations were witnessed for zinc or the copper-to-zinc ratio.

Conclusion

Elevated copper levels were linked to recent head and chest cold events within the past 30 days. Whether these heightened copper levels indicate a pro-inflammatory, infection-predisposing state, or if they rose subsequent to the infectious event in some individuals, representing a reversed causality, warrants further investigation.