ArticleSleep2021
A potential role for zinc in restless legs syndrome.
Article in Sleep, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
6 citing papers in PubMed, 13 citations in OpenAlex.
- Fresh Genetic Insights Into Micronutrients Influences on Restless Legs Syndrome Risk.Food science & nutrition · 2025Article
- Correlates of Restless Legs Syndrome in Older People.Journal of clinical medicine · 2024Article
- Review of the role of the endogenous opioid and melanocortin systems in the restless legs syndrome.Brain : a journal of neurology · 2024Article
- Sleep duration mediates the association between heavy metals and the prevalence of depression: an integrated approach from the NHANES (2005-2020).Frontiers in psychiatry · 2024Article
- BTBD9 attenuates manganese-induced oxidative stress and neurotoxicity by regulating insulin growth factor signaling pathway.Human molecular genetics · 2022Article
- Serum Trace Elements Concentrations in Patients with Restless Legs Syndrome.Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Article
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Authors and funding
16 authors at 9 institutions in 4 countries.
Funding
Abstract
STUDY
objectivesEvaluate serum and brain noniron metals in the pathology and genetics of restless legs syndrome (RLS).
methodsIn two independent studies (cohorts 1 and 2), in which subjects either remained on medications or tapered off medications, we analyzed serum levels of iron, calcium, magnesium, manganese, copper, and zinc both in RLS patients and controls, and assessed the prevalence of the MEIS1 and BTBD9 risk alleles previously established through genome-wide association studies. Human brain sections and a nematode genetic model were also quantified for metal levels using mass spectrometry.
resultsWe found a significant enrichment for the BTBD9 risk genotype in the RLS affected group compared to control (p = 0.0252), consistent with previous literature. Serum (p = 0.0458 and p = 0.0139 for study cohorts 1 and 2, respectively) and brain (p = 0.0413) zinc levels were significantly elevated in the RLS patients versus control subjects.
conclusionWe show for the first time that serum and brain levels of zinc are elevated in RLS. Further, we confirm the BTBD9 genetic risk factor in a new population, although the zinc changes were not significantly associated with risk genotypes. Zinc and iron homeostasis are interrelated, and zinc biology impacts neurotransmitter systems previously linked to RLS. Given the modest albeit statistically significant increase in serum zinc of ~20%, and the lack of association with two known genetic risk factors, zinc may not represent a primary etiology for the syndrome. Further investigation into the pathogenetic role that zinc may play in restless legs syndrome is needed.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.