A Meta-Analysis of Essential Trace Elements in Patients with Coronary Heart Disease

There is growing evidence that presence of essential trace elements that pose risk for coronary heart disease (CHD) patients. A meta-analysis was conducted on the levels of trace elements Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn), Cobalt (Co) and Chromium (Cr) in CHD patients. Eligible articles from the databases of Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, EBSCOHost and Ovid were searched based on PRISMA guidelines. English articles published between 2011 to 2021 were included and analysed by descriptive statistics and RevMan 5.4. Quality assessment was assessed with Newcastle-Ottawa scale. There were six studies selected with 322 participants’ data. Trace elements Cu (SMD=-0.13, 95%CI=[-0.99, 0.73], I2=92%, p=0.77), Zn (SMD=-0.38, 95%CI=[-0.81, 0.06], I2=71%, p=0.09), Fe (SMD=0.47, 95%CI=[-1.19, 2.13], I2=97%, p=0.58) and Mn (SMD=0.11, 95%CI=[-0.11, 0.33], I2=0%, p=0.33) levels were not significant. Sensitivity analysis revealed significant Cu level among patients with CHD (SMD=-0.54, 95%CI=[-0.85, -0.22], I2=0%, p=0.0008) and Fe level among the controls (SMD=1.41, 95%CI=[0.08, 2.73], I2=95%, p=0.04). Whereas Co and Cr levels varied according to dietary and smoking behaviours. Overall quality assessment was medium-to-high quality. Elements Cu was found significant in CHD patients and Fe was found significant among the controls, while other findings were inconclusive.