Dose-Response Relationships Between Serum Copper and Peripheral Hemocyte Alteration in Children: A Retrospective...

Copper is an essential trace element for human health, but it can also be toxic at high concentrations. However, there are few studies on the correlation between serum copper and peripheral blood cells. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the relationship between serum copper levels and peripheral blood cells in children in China. A total of 593 healthy children were recruited from Mianyang Central Hospital from January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2021. Fasting blood was collected to measure the levels of serum copper and test the counts of peripheral blood cells using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and an automated hematology analyzer, respectively. The mean level of serum copper was 16.69 µmol/L in healthy children in Mianyang. Children with higher serum copper levels had higher peripheral counts of white blood cells (mean, 7.23 × 10⁹/L vs. 6.73 × 10⁹/L), lymphocytes (median, 2.87 × 10⁹/L vs. 2.56 × 10⁹/L), monocytes (median, 0.48 × 10⁹/L vs. 0.43 × 10⁹/L), and platelets (mean, 295.35 × 10⁹/L vs. 261.29 × 10⁹/L) than did children with lower serum copper levels. Multivariate linear regression models demonstrated that serum copper levels were positively associated with peripheral blood monocyte counts (B, 95% CI 0.009, 0.003-0.014) and platelets (B, 95% CI 5.521, 2.717-8.326). In conclusion, Elevated serum copper levels were associated with the alteration of peripheral blood cells, which might induce an imbalance in the innate immune system. These results provide basic data for the scientific supplementation of trace elements.