ABSTRACT. The aim of the study was to investigate the combined effect of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and obesity on the levels of essential chemical elements in women's hair.
Materials and methods. A total of 618 women were included in the study: 304 with a diagnosis of NAFLD and 314 without liver pathology. These groups were further divided into subgroups based on the presence or absence of obesity. The levels of essential elements in the hair were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).
Results. The results showed that the zinc levels in the hair samples of women with NAFLD and obesity were 8-12% lower compared to the other groups. Additionally, the molybdenum levels in the hair of women with both NAFLD and obesity were 12.5% higher compared to those with NAFLD alone. The cobalt content in hair in the group with NAFLD and obesity was lower by 21%, compared to healthy women without obesity, and in the group with NAFLD but without obesity it was lower by 29%. Manganese levels in healthy women were 18–30% higher in the group without obesity than in the other groups. Copper content in the group of women with NAFLD was 14% lower compared to the group of healthy women. The factor analysis showed that obesity and NAFLD have a significant effect on zinc and manganese levels in women's hair. There is also a significant interaction between obesity and NAFLD in terms of cobalt and copper content.
Conclusion. It is suggested that zinc, manganese, cobalt, and copper deficiency, as well as altered metabolism, in obesity may increase the risk of NAFLD. This suggests a possible pathogenic relationship between these conditions.
KEYWORDS: NAFLD, obesity, zinc, inflammation, manganese.
For citation: Morozova G.D., Korobeinikova T.V., Tinkov A.A. Study of the relationship of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and obesity with the content of essential chemical elements in the hair of women. Trace elemets in medicine. 2025;26(2):31-40. DOI: 10.19112/2413-6174-2025-26-2-31-40.
Information about the authors:
G.D. Morozova – Laboratory Assistant of the Laboratory of Molecular Dietetics ORCID: 0000-0001-8600-902X; SPIN: 6174-5932
T.V. Korobeinikova – Ph.D. (Tech.), Head of the Laboratory of Molecular Dietetics; Associate Professor of the Department of Medical Elementology ORCID: 0000-0002-1373-6354; SPIN: 7764-6486
A.A. Tinkov – Dr.Sc. (Med.), Chief Research Scientist, Laboratory of Molecular Dietetics; Chief Research Scientist ORCID: 0000-0002-1373-6354; SPIN: 7764-6486
Conflict of interest
The authors declare no obvious and potential conflicts of interest related to the publication of this article.
Funding
The study was supported by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, state assignment No. FENZ-2023-0004.