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Cu to Zn ratio, physical function, disability, and mortality risk in older elderly (ilSIRENTE study)

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Abstract

Associations between copper to zinc ratio (CZr) and mortality have suggested CZr as a biomarker of aging. Nevertheless, very limited data exist on the association between serum CZr and physical or functional status of very old people. We examined the relationship between serum CZr and physical performance, muscle strength, functional status, and survival from the ilSIRENTE Study: a longitudinal study of persons aged 80 years or older (n = 346). An adjusted linear regression model was subsequently performed to calculate the regression coefficients of the associations between baseline physical and functional measures (dependent variable) with CZr or “Cu and Zn” alone taking also into account the influence of other relevant factors, including hematological (albumin, cholesterol, and urea) and inflammatory biomarkers (IL-6 and CRP) that were significantly different across CZr tertiles. CZr showed significant and stronger relationships than Cu or Zn alone with all baseline physical and functional measures in models that did not include adjustments for inflammatory parameters. CZr was also associated with physical decline, measured as “SPPB% decline” at 2 years of follow-up and mortality at 4 years of follow-up. Subjects in the high CZr tertile had a higher risk of death with an adjusted hazard ratio of 1.92 (95% CI, 1.12–3.29; p = 0.02). In conclusion, we have confirmed the role of CZr as a predictor of mortality, whereas the role of CZr as a biomarker or predictor of physical or functional performance seems to be the consequence of its strict relationships with inflammatory parameters. In this context, further investigations need to be carried out.

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Acknowledgments

The paper was supported by INRCA and the ilSIRENTE study. The “Invecchiamento e Longevita` nel Sirente” (ilSIRENTE) study was in turn supported by the “Comunita’ Montana Sirentina” (Secinaro, L’Aquila, Italy). We thank all the participants for their enthusiasm in participating in the project and their patience during the assessments. We are grateful to all the persons working as volunteers in the “Protezione Civile” and in the Italian Red Cross of Abruzzo Region for their support. We sincerely thank the “Comunita’ Montana Sirentina,” and in particular its president who promoted and strongly supported the development of the project. The ilSIRENTE Study Group is composed of the following: the steering committee: R. Bernabei, F. Landi; coordination: A. Russo, M. Valeri, G. Venta; writing panel: C. Barillaro, M. Cesari, P. Danese, L. Ferrucci, G. Onder, M. Pahor, V. Zamboni, E. Capoluongo. The participants: Comune di Fontecchio: P. Melonio, G. Bernabei, A. Benedetti; Comune di Fagnano: N. Scarsella, A. Fattore, M. Fattore; Comune di Tione: M. Gizzi; Comune di Ovindoli: S. Angelosante, E. Chiuchiarelli; Comune di Rocca di Mezzo: S. Pescatore; Comune di Rocca di Cambio: G. Scoccia; Comune di Secinaro: G. Pizzocchia; Comune di Molina Aterno: P. Di Fiore; Comune di Castelvecchio: A. Leone; Comune di Gagliano Aterno: A. Petriglia; Comune di Acciano: A. Di Benedetto; Comune di Goriano Sicoli: N. Colella; Comune di Castel di Ieri: S. Battista; RSA Opera Santa Maria della Pace: A. De Santis, G. Filieri, C. Gobbi, G. Gorga, F. Cocco, P. Graziani.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre of Nutrition and Ageing, Scientific and Technological Area, INRCA, 60121, Ancona, Italy

    Eugenio Mocchegiani, Marco Malavolta, Francesco Piacenza & Andrea Basso

  2. Scientific Direction, INRCA, Ancona, Italy

    Fabrizia Lattanzio, Angela Marie Abbatecola & Silvia Bustacchini

  3. Hospital INRCA, Casatenovo, Lecco, Italy

    Enrico Eugenio Guffanti

  4. Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy

    Andrea Russo, Silvia Giovannini, Ettore Capoluongo, Roberto Bernabei & Francesco Landi

Authors
  1. Eugenio Mocchegiani
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  2. Marco Malavolta
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  3. Fabrizia Lattanzio
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  4. Francesco Piacenza
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  5. Andrea Basso
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  6. Angela Marie Abbatecola
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  7. Andrea Russo
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  8. Silvia Giovannini
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  9. Ettore Capoluongo
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  10. Silvia Bustacchini
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  11. Enrico Eugenio Guffanti
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  12. Roberto Bernabei
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  13. Francesco Landi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Eugenio Mocchegiani.

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Eugenio Mocchegiani and Marco Malavolta contributed equally to this work.

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Mocchegiani, E., Malavolta, M., Lattanzio, F. et al. Cu to Zn ratio, physical function, disability, and mortality risk in older elderly (ilSIRENTE study). AGE 34, 539–552 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11357-011-9252-2

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