A case-control study of trace-element status and lung cancer in Appalachian Kentucky
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases Mar 14, 2019
Unrine JM, et al. - Researchers examined 520 Appalachian Kentucky (App KY) individuals for a possible association between lung cancer incidence and trace-element exposure using toenail and drinking water trace element concentrations. Of these, 367 patients provided toenail samples. They also assessed the utility of fingernails as a surrogate for toenails when patients are unable to provide toenail samples. As per findings, cancer cases did not display higher trace element concentrations (Al, As, Cr, Mn, Co, Fe, Ni, Cu, Se, and Pb) than controls, other than Zn where concentrations were slightly higher in cases. In univariate logistic regression models, lower concentrations of several elements (Al, Mn, Cr, and Se) were more frequently noted in lung cancer cases, although only Mn was significant in multivariate models which controlled for confounding factors. While there appeared a positive correlation of drinking water concentrations of Al, Cr, and Co with cancer incidence in univariate models, only Co remained notable in multivariate models. As toenail concentrations could not be consistently predicted using fingernail concentrations, they do not support using fingernails as surrogates for toenails in future studies.
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