Association between dietary trace minerals and pelvic inflammatory disease: Data from the 2015–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys Original paper
Researched by:
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Divine Aleru
ID
Divine Aleru
I am a biochemist with a deep curiosity for the human microbiome and how it shapes human health, and I enjoy making microbiome science more accessible through research and writing. With 2 years experience in microbiome research, I have curated microbiome studies, analyzed microbial signatures, and now focus on interventions as a Microbiome Signatures and Interventions Research Coordinator.
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Women’s Health
Women’s Health
Women’s health, a vital aspect of medical science, encompasses various conditions unique to women’s physiological makeup. Historically, women were often excluded from clinical research, leading to a gap in understanding the intricacies of women’s health needs. However, recent advancements have highlighted the significant role that the microbiome plays in these conditions, offering new insights and potential therapies. MicrobiomeSignatures.com is at the forefront of exploring the microbiome signature of each of these conditions to unravel the etiology of these diseases and develop targeted microbiome therapies.
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Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
OverviewPelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) is a significant infection of the female upper reproductive tract, affecting the uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, and other surrounding pelvic structures. It is most commonly caused by sexually transmitted infections (STIs), particularly Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. These infections ascend from the cervix or vagina into the upper genital tract, where […]
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Divine Aleru
Researched by:
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Divine Aleru
ID
Divine Aleru
Microbiome Signatures identifies and validates condition-specific microbiome shifts and interventions to accelerate clinical translation. Our multidisciplinary team supports clinicians, researchers, and innovators in turning microbiome science into actionable medicine.
Divine Aleru
What was studied?
This cross-sectional study examined the association between dietary intake of trace minerals and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) among women in the United States. Using data from the 2015–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES), the study aimed to determine whether levels of these trace minerals in the diet correlated with PID risk. Multivariate logistic regression and restricted cubic spline analyses were performed to evaluate the relationships while controlling for demographic, lifestyle, and health covariates.
Who was studied?
The study analyzed data from 2,694 women aged 20 to 59 years, representative of the U.S. female population, who had complete data on dietary trace mineral intake and self-reported PID status. Participants were selected after excluding those with missing or incomplete data on PID, dietary intake, or key covariates. The diverse cohort included various ethnic backgrounds and socioeconomic statuses, with detailed assessments of BMI, smoking status, diabetes, hypertension, and reproductive health factors to adjust for potential confounding influences.
What were the most important findings?
The study found a significant inverse relationship between dietary copper intake and PID risk. Women with higher copper intake showed a notably lower odds of having PID, even after adjusting for multiple confounders, including age, race, BMI, smoking, and chronic health conditions. The strongest protective effect was observed in women consuming more than 1.49 mg/day of copper, which correlated with roughly a 70% reduction in PID odds compared to those with the lowest intake. No significant associations were found between PID and the intake of iron, selenium, or zinc. Subgroup analyses revealed that the inverse association with copper intake was consistent across most subgroups, except for underweight women. Age and BMI influenced the strength and shape of this relationship, with older and overweight women showing stronger linear or nonlinear protective effects from increased copper intake. Biologically, copper’s known role in inflammatory regulation and oxidative stress defense likely underpins its protective association. Given PID’s inflammatory and polymicrobial nature, adequate copper intake may contribute to maintaining immune and microbial homeostasis in the reproductive tract.
What are the greatest implications of this study?
This research highlights dietary copper intake as a potentially modifiable factor in reducing PID risk among women. Clinicians should consider dietary evaluation and counseling on adequate copper intake as part of comprehensive PID prevention strategies. The findings emphasize the importance of nutritional factors in reproductive health and suggest further studies should investigate the mechanistic pathways linking copper to immune modulation and microbiome regulation in PID. Public health efforts promoting balanced copper intake may help lower PID incidence and improve long-term reproductive outcomes. However, as the study is cross-sectional, causal relationships cannot be confirmed, and prospective studies are needed to validate these results and establish dietary recommendations.