Essential trace elements and minerals play a significant role in human health due to their involvement in functioning of various organs and systems. Therefore, deficiency in trace elements and minerals is associated with development of various diseases. Specifically, Zn deficiency is associated with cardiovascular and endocrine diseases, immune deficiency, neurodegeneration, and neuropsychiatric diseases [1]. Due to the role of I as a constituent of thyroid hormones, its deficiency is associated with hypothyroidism and goiter [2]. In addition to endemic Keshan and Kashin-Beck diseases, Se deficiency was shown to be associated with cancer and cardiovascular pathology [3]. Moreover, Se deficiency was shown to affect thyroid function [4]. Both deficiency and overload of other metals including Fe and Cu [5], [6], [7], [8], Co [9], [10], trivalent Cr and V [11], Ca and Mg [12], [13], Mn and Mo [14], [15] are associated with a variety of metabolic, cardiovascular, skeletal, and neurological disorders.

The prevalence of trace element and mineral deficiencies is characterized by significant regional differences. Specifically, Zn deficiency [16] and Fe-deficiency anemia [17] were shown to affect up to 17.3% and 24.3% of the world’s population with the highest rates reaching 30% and more than 40% in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, respectively. Se deficiency affects up to 1 billion people worldwide with a high rate of suboptimal Se intake in China, the Middle East, and Europe [3]. Moreover, it is expected that recent climate changes may result in a further decrease in soil Se levels thus aggravating Se deficiency [18]. Regional differences in trace element and mineral status in populations are mediated by multiple environmental factors including environmental pollution rates, dietary and lifestyle patterns [19], as well as geochemistry [20]. Specifically, geochemical provinces endemic for I [21] or Se [22] deficiency have been estimated. Therefore, assessment of trace element status of different populations as recommended by the World Health Organization [23] has been widely used to reveal the subjects at high risk of overexposure or deficiency [24], [25], [26].

Turkmenistan is a country in Central Asia bordered by Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Iran, as well as the Caspian Sea. Despite certain reports on the high prevalence of nutritional deficiency in Turkmenistan [27], the available data on essential trace element and mineral levels in Turkmenistan inhabitants are scarce. It has been reported that the Turkmenistan government made significant efforts for improvement of I [28] and Fe [29] intake of the population. However, recent data on Fe, I, as well as other essential trace elements and minerals in Turkmenistan are lacking. The existing indications of high risk of trace element undernutrition in the whole region of Central Asia [30] as well as bordering Iran [31] allow to hypothesize suboptimal body burden of essential trace elements and minerals in the population of Turkmenistan.

Therefore, the objective of the present study was to assess essential trace element and mineral levels in serum, hair, and urine of healthy first-year students of the RUDN University who arrived from Turkmenistan in comparison to students originating from Iran or Russia.