Plasma metals and biological aging in 3,055 Chinese adults: a cross-sectional study
In a cross-sectional study of 3,055 Chinese volunteers, plasma copper and strontium were positively associated with at least two biological aging indicators, while vanadium, iron and zinc were negatively associated; inflammation and oxidative stress partially mediated these associations. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
The cross-sectional study assessed 17 plasma metals and four biological age acceleration metrics in 3,055 Chinese volunteers. [1]
Plasma copper and strontium were positively associated with at least two aging indicators, while vanadium, iron and zinc were negatively associated with aging. [1]
Inflammation and oxidative stress partially mediated the metal-aging associations, and diabetes significantly modified them. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Cross-sectional study (abstract).
- Population / context
- 3,055 Chinese adult volunteers.
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Original publication
- September 18, 2026
Metals and four aging metrics in Chinese adults
This cross-sectional study looked at 17 plasma metals and four biological age acceleration metrics (KDM_accel, PhenoAge_accel, PAI_accel and homeostatic dysregulation, HD) in 3,055 Chinese volunteers. It asked whether single and combined metal exposure was associated with biological aging, and whether inflammation and oxidative stress played a mediating role and diabetes a modifying one.
Supporting source [1]
Copper and strontium up, vanadium, iron, zinc down
Plasma copper and strontium showed positive associations with at least two aging indicators, whereas vanadium, iron and zinc were negatively associated with aging. The metal mixture showed consistent linear positive associations with KDM_accel and HD, mainly driven by copper, selenium and antimony. For PhenoAge_accel and PAI_accel the mixture showed complex nonlinear relationships: copper and cobalt were the main positive contributors, vanadium and iron the main negative ones.
Supporting source [1]
Inflammation, oxidative stress and diabetes in the associations
Inflammation and oxidative stress partially mediated the associations between metals and aging. Diabetes, described as a metabolic disease accompanied by inflammation and oxidative stress, was related to accelerated aging and significantly modified the metal-aging relationships. The authors note that dose-response patterns depended on the specific metal and aging indicator, and that future prospective research is needed to confirm these associations.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
Abstract only; the full text was not reviewed. This is a cross-sectional design, so it cannot establish temporal order or causation. The authors state that prospective research is needed to confirm the associations.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Liang X, Liu S, Huang Y, Zheng Y, Li L, Peng Z, Peng X, Dong Z, Liu H, King L, Wen L, Sun Y, Mo X, Zhang X, Liu L. · europepmc.org · September 18, 2026