Researchers used data from the FinnGen database, a large biobank with genetic and health data for Finnish individuals, and used two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to predict blood mineral We obtained data on the potential causal relationship between levels and chronic skin diseases.
writing in diary Frontiers of nutritionthey explained that transferrin saturation (TSAT) is genetically associated with psoriasis (PS), highlighted the role of iron homeostasis in the development of the disease, and increased zinc and selenium intake. He explained that it may help reduce the risk of atopic dermatitis (AD).
Skin condition and mineral intake
Chronic inflammatory skin diseases such as PS, AD, and acne vulgaris (AV) can significantly impair patient health due to: mental and financial stress. Recurrent nature, complex causes, difficult treatments, and complications such as persistent itching, scarring, and hyperpigmentation contribute to these effects.
The researchers pointed out that mineral supplementation plays an important role in maintaining human physiological functions and preventing chronic inflammatory skin diseases such as PS, AD, and AV.
Deficiency of minerals such as zinc, copper, iron, etc. Directly linked to skin problemsReduced zinc levels are associated with conditions such as pustular dermatitis and copper deficiency, which can cause skin depigmentation.
Iron is particularly important for immune function and wound healing, and imbalances in iron metabolism are associated with increased risk of inflammatory skin diseases such as PS. some the studyshows that high levels of zinc and selenium may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, but the effect is modest. There is also evidenceIt is thought that iron deficiency anemia in pregnant women may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease in their offspring, possibly due to folic acid supplementation.
However, the relationship between minerals and skin health remains complex, with contradictory research results, particularly regarding the role of selenium in PS.
Research content
Researchers investigated iron homeostasis measured through biomarkers such as ferritin, total iron binding capacity (TIBC), and TSAT, which is associated with PS.
Although no direct association between serum iron and PS was observed, a significant positive association was found between TSAT, an important indicator of blood iron concentration, and the risk of developing psoriasis. did. For each unit increase in TSAT, the risk of PS increased by 18%.
Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs1799945 was identified as an important factor mediating the relationship between TSAT and PS. However, this study found no genetic association between PS and other minerals such as iron, copper, zinc, selenium, and calcium.
In the Alzheimer’s disease analysis, a slight inverse association was found for zinc and selenium. Each unit increase in zinc and selenium was associated with an 8% reduction in Alzheimer’s disease risk.
“Future studies will consider using more diverse databases and increasing the number of SNPs in MR analysis to enhance causal inference of the relationship between mineral elements and chronic inflammatory skin diseases, thereby enhancing the study results. “Increasing generalizability should be considered,” the researchers wrote.
Source: Volume 11 – 2024
Doi: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1404117
“Mendelian randomization analysis of the risk of inflammatory skin diseases due to mineral deficiency”
Author: Wu, Ronghui et al.
