The daily intake and serum levels of copper, selenium and zinc are associated with osteoarthritis but not with rheumatoid arthritis in a cross-section study

The present study examined potential association between the daily intake and serum levels of copper (Cu), selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn) and the risk of osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Daily intake and serum concentrations of Cu, Zn and Se in 4200 adults from the 2011–2016 NHANES were examined and divided into normal, OA patients and RA patients. The level of serum Cu was higher in OA and RA than in non- arthritis, while the level of serum Se and Zn were no difference in the three group. Serum Se and Zn, but not Cu, concentrations were highly correlated with daily intake. Cu, Se and Zn intake was independently associated with increased risk of OA, but not with RA. And there was a trend for higher odds of OA among participants in the higher Cu, Se and Zn intake. Future large longitudinal studies are warranted to confirm these findings.