The association between serum copper concentrations and elevated blood pressure in US children and adolescents: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011-2016

BackgroundCopper is an essential trace metal with potential interest for cardiovascular effects. Few studies have explored the association between copper and blood pressure in children and adolescents.MethodWe conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 1242 children and adolescents aged 8-17 years who participated in the 2011 to 2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Using 2017 American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines, elevated blood pressure (EBP) was defined as a mean systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure (BP)>= 90th percentile for sex, age, and height for children aged 1-12 years and systolic BP >= 120 mmHg or diastolic BP >= 80 mmHg for adolescent age 13-17 years. Mean serum copper was 114.17 mu g/dL.ResultsAfter multiple adjustments, dose-response analyses revealed that EBP was associated with progressively higher serum copper concentrations in a nonlinear trend. In comparison with the lowest quartile of serum copper concentrations, the adjusted odds of EBP for the highest quartile was 5.26 (95% confidence interval, 2.76-10.03).ConclusionOur results suggested that high serum copper concentrations were significantly associated with EBP in US children and adolescents.