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The Role of Trace Elements in Nutrition and Health, 2nd Edition

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Bioactives and Nutraceuticals".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 September 2026 | Viewed by 2564

Editor

Prof. Dr. Jie Feng

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed of Zhejiang Province, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Interests: minerals; iron metabolism; iron homeostasis; zinc metabolism; zinc homeostasis; antioxidants; oxidative stress; animal nutrition
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Trace elements such as iron, zinc, and selenium play vital roles in the physiological processes of humans and animals, including their metabolism, development, and immunity. Trace element intake is essential for maintaining health, with the required levels differing between populations and life stages; for example, pregnant women, infants, elderly people, people with chronic illnesses, and newborn piglets all require different levels of trace elements in their diets. Although trace elements have been studied for many years, they are not fully understood. This Special Issue will focus on the biological functions of trace elements, the mechanisms of their absorption and metabolism, and their recommended intakes; health problems caused by deficiencies or the excessive intake of trace elements; and the development and application of novel trace elements.

We welcome multidisciplinary, high-quality original research papers and reviews from across the globe on a wide range of species, including both basic and applied research, as well as experimental data at the in vivo, molecular, immunological, and cellular levels. This Special Issue aims to provide readers with more comprehensive information on this topic to promote the application and development of trace elements in nutrition and health.

Prof. Dr. Jie Feng
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • trace elements
  • nutrition
  • health
  • function
  • disease
  • metabolism
  • homeostasis

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 8032 KB  
Article
Associative Analysis of lncRNA/circRNA-miRNA-mRNA Expression Profiles in Iron-Overloaded HT-1080 Fibrosarcoma Cells
by Yifan Teng, Qian Zhang, Haoxuan Ding and Jie Feng
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(12), 5617; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27125617 (registering DOI) - 22 Jun 2026
Abstract
Iron overload disrupts cellular homeostasis and drives ferroptosis through dysregulated iron metabolism. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are considered as key regulators of various biological functions and targets for a new generation of RNA therapeutics and biomarkers. However, few studies have investigated the regulatory roles [...] Read more.
Iron overload disrupts cellular homeostasis and drives ferroptosis through dysregulated iron metabolism. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are considered as key regulators of various biological functions and targets for a new generation of RNA therapeutics and biomarkers. However, few studies have investigated the regulatory roles of ncRNAs, particularly competitive endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) in iron overload. This study performed whole-transcriptome sequencing to characterize the ceRNA network in ferric ammonium citrate (FAC)-induced iron-overloaded HT-1080 fibrosarcoma cells. A total of 208 differentially expressed mRNAs, 83 lncRNAs, and 170 circRNAs (q < 0.05) were identified, with hierarchical clustering revealing distinct expression patterns between control and iron-treated groups. KEGG enrichment implicated vitamin B6 metabolism (q < 0.001) and lysine degradation (q < 0.001) as key disrupted pathways. ceRNA network was conducted and further demonstrated lncRNA/circRNA-mediated regulation of ferroptosis genes via shared miRNA response elements. Notably, LINC-PINT-232 was implicated in the regulation of both ferritin heavy chain (FTH) and sequestosome 1 (SQSTM1), two ferroptosis-associated mRNAs. FTH upregulation mitigates iron toxicity through ferroxidase activity, while SQSTM1 modulates lipid peroxidation in ferroptosis. These findings provide a preliminary transcriptomic landscape for hypothesis generation regarding ncRNA-mediated regulatory mechanisms in iron overload-induced ferroptosis and offer a computational foundation for future functional and therapeutic investigations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Trace Elements in Nutrition and Health, 2nd Edition)
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Review

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22 pages, 956 KB  
Review
Trace Elements and Depressive Symptoms in Coronary Artery Disease: A Systematic Review of Sparse and Predominantly Indirect Evidence
by Jakub Marek Baran, Zuzanna Waszak, Joanna Jarzębska, Damian Grusiecki, Maja Śmigielska, Wacław Kochman and Ewelina A. Dziedzic
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(9), 3805; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27093805 - 24 Apr 2026
Viewed by 514
Abstract
Coronary artery disease (CAD), including acute coronary syndromes, frequently co-occurs with depression and is associated with adverse outcomes. Trace elements may influence shared biological pathways, including oxidative stress, inflammation, and neurovascular signaling. This study evaluated the association between trace element status and depressive [...] Read more.
Coronary artery disease (CAD), including acute coronary syndromes, frequently co-occurs with depression and is associated with adverse outcomes. Trace elements may influence shared biological pathways, including oxidative stress, inflammation, and neurovascular signaling. This study evaluated the association between trace element status and depressive symptoms in CAD. A systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines and prospectively registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251231129). PubMed, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library were searched from inception to 2 December 2025. Studies assessing trace element concentrations in adults with CAD and depressive symptoms were eligible. Due to limited direct evidence, partially aligned and indirect studies were also included. Data were synthesized narratively. Of 699 records, four studies were included. No studies fulfilled Tier 1 criteria. The available evidence consisted of partially aligned (Tier 2) and indirect (Tier 3) studies. Lower zinc and magnesium levels and higher copper concentrations were suggested to be associated, based exclusively on Tier 2–3, low-certainty, predominantly indirect evidence. Interventional studies reported modest improvements following zinc or combined magnesium and zinc supplementation, although not in CAD-specific populations. Evidence directly addressing trace elements and depression in CAD is extremely limited and largely indirect. Current data do not support causal inference or clinical recommendations. Findings should be considered exploratory and hypothesis-generating. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Trace Elements in Nutrition and Health, 2nd Edition)
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24 pages, 385 KB  
Review
Essential and Toxic Elements in Cardiovascular Disease: Pathophysiological Roles and the Emerging Contribution of Hair Mineral Analysis
by Zofia Gramala, Oliwia Kalus, Joanna Maćkowiak, Katarzyna Zalewska, Michał Karpiński, Antoni Staniewski, Zofia Szymańska, Maciej Zieliński, Malwina Grobelna, Paweł Zawadzki, Ryszard Staniszewski, Aleksandra Krasińska-Płachta, Paulina Mertowska, Mansur Rahnama-Hezavah, Ewelina Grywalska and Tomasz Urbanowicz
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(24), 12145; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms262412145 - 17 Dec 2025
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1656
Abstract
Hair mineral analysis (HMA) has emerged as a promising non-invasive method for assessing long-term exposure to trace elements and metals, potentially complementing traditional biochemical and clinical markers of cardiovascular risk. This review synthesizes current evidence on the relationships between hair elemental profiles and [...] Read more.
Hair mineral analysis (HMA) has emerged as a promising non-invasive method for assessing long-term exposure to trace elements and metals, potentially complementing traditional biochemical and clinical markers of cardiovascular risk. This review synthesizes current evidence on the relationships between hair elemental profiles and cardiovascular disease (CVD), with an emphasis on toxic metals (As, Hg, Pb, Cd, Ni, Al) and essential micronutrients (Mg, Mn, Zn, Cu, Fe, Cr, Li). The reviewed studies consistently show that patients with CVD exhibit elevated levels of toxic elements and reduced concentrations of protective ones, reflecting oxidative stress, inflammation, and endothelial dysfunction as mechanistic links. Methodologically, the review highlights inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) with collision/reaction cell technology and microwave digestion as gold-standard analytical approaches, while underscoring the urgent need for harmonized protocols, validated washing procedures, and certified reference materials. The interpretation of HMA requires consideration of temporal dynamics, external contamination, and regional variability. Although current evidence supports the research utility of HMA, its clinical integration remains limited by the absence of reference ranges and prospective validation. HMA may hold future value in environmental risk stratification and primary prevention in exposed populations, but further standardization and large-scale longitudinal studies are necessary to define its diagnostic and prognostic relevance in cardiovascular medicine. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Trace Elements in Nutrition and Health, 2nd Edition)
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