Serum metallomic profiling and copper isotopic analysis in children with anemia or overweight

Anemia and overweight issues in children are being widely concerned. This study investigated serum concentrations of Mg, Ca, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Ag, and Pb elements and copper isotopic fractionation in healthy, anemic, and overweight or obese children, to give metallome profiles and evaluate the feasibility of these elements and δ 65 Cu as a potential indicator with metallome comprehensively for early subclinical status. Analysis of mild anemia cases revealed remarkable metallomic homeostasis, suggesting compensatory mechanisms to minimize physiological disruption. Sex-specific variations were observed, with girls exhibiting more pronounced differences in metal levels of Zn and Co than boys. While traditional hematological markers and element levels showed limited sensitivity, δ 65 Cu demonstrated marginally significant differences between anemia and non-anemia groups ( p ∼ 0.05), highlighting its potential as a novel isotopic indicator for early anemia detection. In BMI-stratified cohorts, overweight or obese children exhibited distinct serum Pb and Cr patterns. Pb concentrations displayed a gradient increase with rising body mass index ( p < 0.01). Further cross-stratification by anemia and overweight status revealed that environmental Pb exposure as a possible contributor to obesity-related risks and emphasizing the need for dietary exposure monitoring. The results advocate for expanded biomonitoring strategies that integrate multi-elemental and isotopic signatures into health monitoring.