The objective of the present study was to assess the level of minerals and trace elements in 40 children with Down's syndrome and 40 controls aged 1-2 years old. Hair mineral and trace element analysis was performed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The obtained data demonstrate that hair levels of Mg, P, I, Cr, Si, Zn, and Pb in Down's syndrome patients exceeded the respective control values by 36, 36, 93, 57, 45, 28, and 54%, whereas hair mercury was more than twofold lower in children with Down's syndrome. The observed difference in the levels of trace elements was age-dependent. In particular, in 1-year-olds, major differences were observed for essential elements (Cr, Si, Zn), whereas in 2-year-olds-for toxic elements (Hg, Pb). At the same time, hair P levels in Down's syndrome patients were 14 and 35% higher at the age of 1 and 2 years in comparison to the respective controls. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that a model incorporating all elements, being characterized by a significant group difference, accounted for 42.5% of status variability. At the same time, only hair phosphorus was significantly interrelated with Down's syndrome status (β = 0.478; p < 0.001). Principal component analysis (PCA) used As, Ca, Cr, Fe, Hg, I, Mg, P, Pb, Se, Si, Sn, and Zn as predictors, with the resulting R2 = 0.559. The OPLS-DA models also separated between Down's and health control groups. Therefore, 1-2-year-old patients with Down's syndrome are characterized by significant alterations of mineral and trace element status.
Keywords: Hair; Mercury; Metals; Phosphorus; Trisomy 21.