Plasma Nickel Levels Correlate with Low Muscular Strength and Renal Function Parameters in Patients with Prostate Cancer
Nickel is associated with cancer in occupational exposure. However, few studies have been devoted to analyzing the effects of nickel at environmental concentrations in cancer patients. In this work, the concentration of nickel in blood samples from patients with prostate cancer (PCa) was evaluated b...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2022-06-01
|
| Series: | Diseases |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9721/10/3/39 |
| _version_ | 1797489337438306304 |
|---|---|
| author | Antoni Alegre-Martínez María Isabel Martínez-Martínez José Rubio-Briones Omar Cauli |
| author_facet | Antoni Alegre-Martínez María Isabel Martínez-Martínez José Rubio-Briones Omar Cauli |
| author_sort | Antoni Alegre-Martínez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Nickel is associated with cancer in occupational exposure. However, few studies have been devoted to analyzing the effects of nickel at environmental concentrations in cancer patients. In this work, the concentration of nickel in blood samples from patients with prostate cancer (PCa) was evaluated because this metal displays androgenic and estrogenic effects that play a crucial role in prostate carcinogenesis and treatment. We, therefore, compared blood nickel concentration in patients with PCa (non-occupationally exposed) (<i>n</i> = 46) with those in control age-matched individuals (<i>n</i> = 46). We also analyzed if there was any association between sociodemographic factors, clinical variables, geriatric evaluation assessment results, blood cell counts, or biochemical, androgen and estrogen concentrations. Using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy on the plasma samples, we observed a mean nickel level of 4.97 ± 1.20 µg/L in the PCa group and 3.59 ± 0.49 µg/L in the control group, with a non-significant effect (<i>p</i> = 0.293) between the two groups. The nickel concentration was significantly correlated with patient age (<i>p</i> = 0.005) and reduced handgrip strength (<i>p</i> = 0.003). Regarding biochemical parameters, significant associations were found with the renal glomerular filtration rate (<i>p</i> = 0.024) and blood urea levels (<i>p</i> = 0.016). No significant correlations were observed with other blood analytical parameters or testosterone or estradiol levels. These specific renal function and muscle strength effects were observed at environmental nickel exposure levels believed to be safe or at least far from the high concentrations observed after occupational exposure. Therefore, these parameters deserve further study, given that they could help pinpoint further public health concerns regarding nickel exposure in the general population. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:16:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-85e5b829bf874463a54294a0614ca936 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-9721 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:16:03Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Diseases |
| spelling | doaj.art-85e5b829bf874463a54294a0614ca9362023-11-23T15:51:31ZengMDPI AGDiseases2079-97212022-06-011033910.3390/diseases10030039Plasma Nickel Levels Correlate with Low Muscular Strength and Renal Function Parameters in Patients with Prostate CancerAntoni Alegre-Martínez0María Isabel Martínez-Martínez1José Rubio-Briones2Omar Cauli3Frailty and Cognitive Impairment Organized Group (FROG), University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, SpainFrailty and Cognitive Impairment Organized Group (FROG), University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, SpainDepartment of Urology, Fundación Instituto Valenciano de Oncologia, 46009 Valencia, SpainFrailty and Cognitive Impairment Organized Group (FROG), University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, SpainNickel is associated with cancer in occupational exposure. However, few studies have been devoted to analyzing the effects of nickel at environmental concentrations in cancer patients. In this work, the concentration of nickel in blood samples from patients with prostate cancer (PCa) was evaluated because this metal displays androgenic and estrogenic effects that play a crucial role in prostate carcinogenesis and treatment. We, therefore, compared blood nickel concentration in patients with PCa (non-occupationally exposed) (<i>n</i> = 46) with those in control age-matched individuals (<i>n</i> = 46). We also analyzed if there was any association between sociodemographic factors, clinical variables, geriatric evaluation assessment results, blood cell counts, or biochemical, androgen and estrogen concentrations. Using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy on the plasma samples, we observed a mean nickel level of 4.97 ± 1.20 µg/L in the PCa group and 3.59 ± 0.49 µg/L in the control group, with a non-significant effect (<i>p</i> = 0.293) between the two groups. The nickel concentration was significantly correlated with patient age (<i>p</i> = 0.005) and reduced handgrip strength (<i>p</i> = 0.003). Regarding biochemical parameters, significant associations were found with the renal glomerular filtration rate (<i>p</i> = 0.024) and blood urea levels (<i>p</i> = 0.016). No significant correlations were observed with other blood analytical parameters or testosterone or estradiol levels. These specific renal function and muscle strength effects were observed at environmental nickel exposure levels believed to be safe or at least far from the high concentrations observed after occupational exposure. Therefore, these parameters deserve further study, given that they could help pinpoint further public health concerns regarding nickel exposure in the general population.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9721/10/3/39prostate cancerendocrine effectsmetalenvironmentestrogensandrogens |
| spellingShingle | Antoni Alegre-Martínez María Isabel Martínez-Martínez José Rubio-Briones Omar Cauli Plasma Nickel Levels Correlate with Low Muscular Strength and Renal Function Parameters in Patients with Prostate Cancer Diseases prostate cancer endocrine effects metal environment estrogens androgens |
| title | Plasma Nickel Levels Correlate with Low Muscular Strength and Renal Function Parameters in Patients with Prostate Cancer |
| title_full | Plasma Nickel Levels Correlate with Low Muscular Strength and Renal Function Parameters in Patients with Prostate Cancer |
| title_fullStr | Plasma Nickel Levels Correlate with Low Muscular Strength and Renal Function Parameters in Patients with Prostate Cancer |
| title_full_unstemmed | Plasma Nickel Levels Correlate with Low Muscular Strength and Renal Function Parameters in Patients with Prostate Cancer |
| title_short | Plasma Nickel Levels Correlate with Low Muscular Strength and Renal Function Parameters in Patients with Prostate Cancer |
| title_sort | plasma nickel levels correlate with low muscular strength and renal function parameters in patients with prostate cancer |
| topic | prostate cancer endocrine effects metal environment estrogens androgens |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9721/10/3/39 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT antonialegremartinez plasmanickellevelscorrelatewithlowmuscularstrengthandrenalfunctionparametersinpatientswithprostatecancer AT mariaisabelmartinezmartinez plasmanickellevelscorrelatewithlowmuscularstrengthandrenalfunctionparametersinpatientswithprostatecancer AT joserubiobriones plasmanickellevelscorrelatewithlowmuscularstrengthandrenalfunctionparametersinpatientswithprostatecancer AT omarcauli plasmanickellevelscorrelatewithlowmuscularstrengthandrenalfunctionparametersinpatientswithprostatecancer |