Trace Elements in Medicine (Moscow)
2018, 19(1): 5-13
TOPICAL PAPER

EVALUATION AND CORRECTION OF ELEMENTAL STATUS OF THE POPULATION AS A PERSPECTIVE DIRECTION OF NATIONAL HEALTHCARE AND ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING

A.V. Skalny

Orenburg State University, Pobedy avenue, 13, 460018, Orenburg, Russia
Yaroslavl State University, Sovetskaya St., 14, Yaroslavl, 150000, Russia
RUDN University, Miklukho-Maklay St., 10/2, Moscow, 117198, Russia
All-Russian Research Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (VILAR), Grina St., 7, Moscow, 117216, Russia

DOI: 10.19112/2413-6174-2018-19-1-5-13 

ABSTRACT. In the last 40-50 years, in developed countries mass surveys of population in various regions are conducted at the national and supranational levels in order to establish reference values for the content of chemical elements in human tissues and body fluids, mainly in serum, urine, less often in whole blood, hair, nails. Based on the obtained results, accumulated in special databases, conclusions are drawn about the elemental status of populations and different cohorts, its impact on medical and demographic indices, the policies of states, their unions (EU) and international organizations (WHO, UNICEF, UNESCO, etc.) are developed in regard to nutrition of the people, quality of life, food and environmental safety. Large-scale projects studying provision of people in various regions with iodine, iron, zinc, selenium or load with heavy metals and arsenic are widely known. A group of specialists led by prof. A.V. Skalny (coworkers of the Center for Biotic Medicine, Moscow, the Institute of Bioelementology of the Orenburg State University, the Institute of Toxicology of the Federal Medical-Biological Agency of Russia) within the framework of the Federal Targeted Program «National System of Chemical and Biological Safety of the Russian Federation for 2009–2014» a comprehensive non-invasive study of elemental status of the Russian population was conducted (65,000 children and adults in 80 regions were examined for the content of 25 chemical elements). Hair samples were used as a diagnostic biological substance; their advantages in conducting mass medical and ecological studies are well known. Data on the background levels of chemical elements in the population of different regions has been received; a database has been created that allows to obtain reference values for the content of chemical elements in hair for most of the regions studied; a five-part manual and an atlas on elemental status of the population of Russia has been published. Correlations were established between prevalence of macro- and trace element deficiencies in the regions, accumulation of toxicants and numerous medical and demographic indices. On the basis of the received data, it is proposed to develop and implement regional programs to improve demographic parameters, the quality of life and the level of public health.

KEYWORDS: trace elements, population, regions, morbidity, demography.