Trace Element Status and Oxidative Stress in Asthma
Summary
Asthma is characterised by chronic airway inflammation accompanied by an imbalance between pro-oxidant and antioxidant systems. Key trace elements—including selenium, zinc, copper and manganese—serve as indispensable cofactors for antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase, which neutralise reactive oxygen species (ROS) and protect airway tissues from oxidative injury. Altered levels of these micronutrients have been observed in asthmatic patients, correlating with disease severity, frequency of exacerbations and impaired lung function. Dysregulated trace element homeostasis can weaken antioxidant defences, amplify inflammatory pathways and exacerbate bronchial hyperresponsiveness. Recent advances in multi-element analytical techniques and mechanistic studies have elucidated how nutritional status interacts with immune responses and redox balance, paving the way for biomarker discovery and targeted nutritional interventions aimed at restoring antioxidant capacity and improving clinical outcomes.
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Trace Element Status and Oxidative Stress in Asthma publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in trace element status and oxidative stress in asthma across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Trace elements: Mineral micronutrients required in microgram quantities to support enzymatic reactions and cellular homeostasis.
Oxidative stress: A condition in which an excess of reactive oxygen species overwhelms the body’s antioxidant defences, leading to molecular and cellular damage.
Reactive oxygen species (ROS): Highly reactive derivatives of oxygen, such as superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide, produced during normal metabolism and inflammation.
Antioxidant enzymes: Proteins—including superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase—that catalyse the detoxification of ROS and protect tissues from oxidative injury.
References
- Mineral Micronutrients in Asthma. Nutrients (2021).
- Lack of iron, zinc, and vitamins as a contributor to the etiology of atopic diseases. Frontiers in Nutrition (2023).
- Zinc Deficiency and Zinc Supplementation in Allergic Diseases. Biomolecules (2024).
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