Diagnostic utility of 8-isoprostane and serum trace minerals in assessing asthma severity and control

Abstract

Objective: Oxidative stress and micronutrient deficiencies contribute to asthma pathophysiology, yet their combined diagnostic utility remains underexplored. This study aimed to evaluate serum 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α (8-iso-PGF2α), zinc, and selenium levels in adults with asthma and determine their association with disease severity and control status.

Methods: A case‑control study enrolled 90 physician‑diagnosed asthmatic patients and 90 age‑ and sex‑matched healthy controls. Patients were stratified by severity (moderate, n=56; severe, n=34) and by GINA‑based control status (controlled, n=31; partly controlled, n=34; uncontrolled, n=25). Serum 8-iso-PGF2α was quantified using ELISA, while zinc and selenium were measured by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Non‑parametric tests (Mann‑Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis) were used for comparisons.

Results: Serum 8-iso-PGF2α was significantly higher in patients than in controls (median 217.6 vs. 137.3 pg/mL; p<0.001) and increased progressively with worsening severity (severe vs. moderate: 272.6 vs. 191.1 pg/mL; p<0.001) and poorer control (uncontrolled vs. controlled: 253.7 vs. 186.1 pg/mL; p=0.032). Conversely, zinc and selenium were significantly lower in patients than in controls (zinc: 11.68 vs. 13.22 μmol/L; selenium: 1.175 vs. 1.518 μmol/L; both p<0.001) and showed stepwise depletion with increasing severity (both p<0.001). Selenium also declined significantly with loss of asthma control (p=0.046).

Conclusions: Elevated lipid peroxidation coupled with progressive trace mineral depletion reliably reflects inflammatory burden and clinical deterioration in asthma. These findings support the integrated utility of 8-iso-PGF2α and selenium as complementary biomarkers for disease monitoring.