Human Nail Selenium and Cadmium Predict Perceived Stress

Abstract

New Zealand has low levels of the essential trace elements selenium and a growing concern with increasing exposure to cadmium, one of the most toxic pollutants worldwide. Both elements are highly implicated in health and disease and have links with the central nervous system. Selenium levels have previously been shown to have a relationship with psychological stress and is also known to protect against cadmium neurotoxicity. We sort to examine the impact of selenium and cadmium as factors for perceived stress in a New Zealand population, with a high proportion of tertiary students. All participants completed a validated questionnaire for perceived stress and had nail clippings analysed for cadmium and selenium using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Factors for increased perceived stress are younger age, lower selenium concentrations and higher cadmium concentrations. Both selenium and cadmium are likely to be important considerations to reduce perceived stress levels in this population.