Dietary Zinc, Copper, and Selenium Intake and High-Risk Human Papillomavirus Infection among American Women: Data from NHANES 2011–2016

Abstract

Studies have shown that the micronutrients, zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and selenium (Se) are associated with the HPV-associated cervical cancer, yet between dietary Zn/Cu/Se intake and high-risk HPV (hrHPV) infection remain unclear. We obtained publicly available data in the present cross-sectional study from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) performed between 2011 and 2016. Dietary Zn, Cu, and Se intakes were assessed from two 24-h diet recalls. A total of 4628 female with the age of 18–59 years were included in this secondary analysis. Comparing the highest with the lowest quartiles of Zn intake, the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) for hrHPV infection was 0.72 (95% CI, 0.54–0.98). The aOR upon comparison of the quartile three with the lowest quartile of Cu intake was 0.67 (95% CI, 0.50–0.90). Whereas no significant association was found between intakes of Se and hrHPV infection in multivariate analysis. Moreover, compared with those below the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA), hrHPV infection risk was significantly decreased among women who met the RDA for Cu (aOR: 0.74; 95% CI = 0.60–0.92), but not for Zn and Se. In conclusion, high dietary Zn and moderate copper intakes were independently and negatively associated with hrHPV infection in addition to Se.

Acknowledgments

The authors thank all the participants and staff of NHANES.

Author Contribution Statement

Li Yang and Di Xiao conceived the study and interpreted the data. Di Xiao drafted the manuscript. Di Xiao and Weidong Li analyzed the data. Zihao Wen, Bofeng Dai, Weijian Mo, and Shiqiu Qiu collected the data. Wei-Hong Zhang and Li Yang critically revised the manuscript. All authors revised and approved the final report.

Disclosure Statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the Health Science and Technology Project of Guangzhou of China (No. 2020A031002; No.20211A011030).