INFLUENCE OF NUTRITIONAL FACTORS ON LIPID PROFILE AND LEVELS OF MAGNESIUM, COPPER, ZINC, SELENIUM AND RUBIDIUM

Background: Nutrition has been shown to significantly influence the biomarkers of both the multielement status and the lipid profile. However, there are some specific local environmental and genetic factors, that define the substantial variability of their levels in different populations. Several large studies in the last decade report that Bulgaria is among the first countries in the European Union in terms of premature death from cardiovascular diseases under the age of 65. This emphasizes the importance of the recommended annual screening of the lipid profile by adults. The essential role of the elements copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), selenium (Se), rubidium (Rb) and magnesium (Mg) for the antioxidant and immune defense of the body has been a subject of scientific interest in the last thirty years. However, there is scarce data on the influence of nutrition habits of Bulgarians on the serum levels of Mg, Cu, Zn, Se, and Rb. Aim: To determine the serum levels of Mg, Cu, Zn, Se, Rb, total cholesterol, LDL-, HDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides, and evaluate their relationship with nutrition. Methodology: A group of 107 directly selected healthy volunteers of Bulgarian nationality (50 males and 57 females, aged 18 to 65 years) were included in the study. Exclusion criteria were acute or chronic diseases, and intake of dietary supplements containing Se, Zn, Cu, Rb and Mg in the last 6 months. Venous blood serum levels of Cu, Zn, Se, Rb, and Mg were determined via collision cell inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Enzymatic methods were used to measure total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides. Results: In participants consuming fish less than once a week, we measured significantly lower Se levels (р < 0.0001) and lower LDL-cholesterol (p = 0.038). Significantly higher total cholesterol levels were found in the group consuming meat less than twice a week (p = 0.038). We observed suboptimal Se levels (less than 80 μg/L) in 42% of the participants. Dyslipidemia was found in more than 50% of the total group: total cholesterol > 5.2 mmol/L, 50.5%; LDL-cholesterol > 2.6 mmol/L, 74.8%; HDL-cholesterol < 1.68 mmol/L for women, and < 1.45 mmol/L for men, 49.5%. Conclusion: The established suboptimal serum levels of Se and lipid profile parameters in healthy individuals from the Bulgarian population emphasizes the importance of targeted monitoring of these laboratory indicators in patient groups at increased risk of cardiovascular and autoimmune diseases. Moreover, the influence of nutrition habits on multielement and lipid profile must be considered in assessing the need for lifestyle corrections, micro- and macronutrient supplementation in these pathological conditions.