Trace Elements in Medicine (Moscow)
2020, 21(3): 33-42
ORIGINAL PAPERS

THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE EXCHANGE OF ESSENTIAL TRACE ELEMENTS AND THE FUNCTIONAL STATE OF THE CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM IN INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

A.A. Kirichuk

Peoples' Friendship University of Russia, Miklukho-Maklai Street, 6, Moscow, 117198, Russia

DOI: 10.19112/2413-6174-2020-21-3-33-42 

ABSTRACT. The aim of the study was to study the relationship between the level of essential trace elements and the functional state of the cardiovascular system (CVS) in freshmen from foreign countries compared with freshmen from Russia (control group). The CVS study was conducted by the AngioScan-01 hardware-software complex (AIC). The level of essential elements in the analyzed biosubstrates was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). It was found that foreign students have significantly higher values of the stress index (IS) and vascular wall stiffness (SI) compared to freshmen from Russia. At the same time, the value of the reflection index (RI is a marker of peripheral vascular tone) and the integral indicator indicating aortic elasticity (dTpp) in foreign students were significantly lower than those of freshmen from Russia. Analysis of hair trace element content revealed significantly lower hair Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, I, Mg, Mn, and V levels in international students as compared to controls. Urinary trace element levels were more stable. Particularly, Co and Mn levels were found to be lower, whereas Cu and Zn concentration was higher than those in students from Russia. Correlation analysis revealed inverse association between stress index and hair Fe content. Mg and Mn levels in hair were also inversely associated with stiffness index. Urinary Cu, Se, and Zn concentration directly correlated with arterial stiffness, being inversely associated with dTpp values. Oppositely, urinary V levels were inversely and directly correlated with these parameters, respectively. Therefore, the results of analysis demonstrated the potential relationship between patterns of trace element status and cardiovascular reactivity in international students.

KEYWORDS: international students, Baevsky stress index, essential trace elements, activity of the cardiovascular system, angioscans, inductively-coupled mass-spectrometry.