Patients undergoing long-term hemodialysis (HD) are known to have abnormal blood 
concentrations of antioxidant minerals; concurrent oxidative stress can 
contribute to increased vascular calcification. This study aims to evaluate the 
associations between circulating antioxidant minerals and clinical biomarkers of 
vascular calcification in HD patients. Blood biochemical parameters, antioxidant 
minerals (selenium (Se), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and magnesium (Mg)), and 
several promoters and inhibitors of calcification (matrix Gla protein (MGP), 
fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23), matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and -9), 
and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase (TIMP-1 and -2)) were determined in 
HD patients (n = 62) and age- and sex-matched healthy individuals (n = 30). 
Compared with healthy subjects, HD patients had significantly lower plasma 
concentrations of Se and Zn, increased Cu and Mg, and higher levels of oxidative 
stress and inflammatory markers (Cu/Zn ratios, malondialdehyde (MDA), advanced 
glycation end products (AGEs), and C-reactive protein (CRP)). We observed that 
HD patients had significantly lower concentrations of MGP and higher levels of 
FGF-23, MMP-2 and -9, TIMP-1 and -2, and MMP-2/TIMP-2 and MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratios. 
We also observed significant relationships between the concentrations of these 
minerals and calcification biomarkers in HD patients. These results suggest that 
changes in the homeostasis of antioxidant minerals (Se, Zn, Cu, and Mg) may 
contribute to the effects of oxidative stress and inflammatory status, thereby 
participating in the mechanism for accelerated vascular calcification in 
patients undergoing long-term HD.