Researchers from Oklahoma State University Report Details of New Studies and Findings in the Area of Managed Care (Comparison of Circulating and Hepatic Vitamin and Mineral Concentrations In Elasmobranchs Under Managed Care): Managed Care

2025 AUG 13 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Daily News -- Investigators publish new report on Managed Care. According to news reporting originating in Stillwater, Oklahoma, by NewsRx journalists, research stated, “Both blood and liver samples can be used to evaluate vitamin, mineral, and heavy metal concentrations clinically. In elasmobranchs, it is unknown whether circulating concentrations of these analytes reflect concentrations in storage organs such as the liver.”

Financial supporters for this research include Oklahoma State University Debbie and Wayne Bell Professorship in Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Adventure Aquarium.

The news reporters obtained a quote from the research from Oklahoma State University, “The purpose of this study was to report hepatic concentrations of select heavy metals and to compare concentrations of select vitamins and minerals in paired blood and liver samples in captive elasmobranchs. Blood (serum or lithium heparinized plasma) samples collected perimortem and hepatic tissue samples collected during necropsy from 27 elasmobranchs were included. Taxa (order, species), sex (male, female), and age class (immature, mature) were recorded. Vitamin A, vitamin E, cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, selenium, and zinc were measured in both blood and liver. Arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, and thallium concentrations were reported for liver only. Descriptive statistics were calculated for each analyte. Statistical analysis was performed with scatter plots with fitted regression lines, box plots, and a multiple linear regression model for multivariate analysis. Only the correlation between blood and liver concentrations of molybdenum (P < 0.001), cobalt (P = 0.001), iron (P = 0.014), and vitamin A (P = 0.020) were statistically significant. Significant differences in blood manganese and molybdenum, and hepatic vitamin A, manganese, molybdenum, and zinc were found between taxonomic orders. However, no differences based on sex or age class were detected.”

According to the news reporters, the research concluded: “Future research is needed to elucidate the clinical significance of circulating versus tissue vitamin and mineral concentrations in elasmobranchs.”

This research has been peer-reviewed.

For more information on this research see: Comparison of Circulating and Hepatic Vitamin and Mineral Concentrations In Elasmobranchs Under Managed Care. Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine, 2025;56(2):293-302. Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine can be contacted at: Amer Assoc Zoo Veterinarians, 581705 White Oak Road, Yulee, FL 32097, USA.

Our news correspondents report that additional information may be obtained by contacting Joao Brandao, Oklahoma State University, Dept. of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, 2065 West Farm Rd, Stillwater, OK 74078, United States. Additional authors for this research include Greta Doden, Peter M. DiGeronimo, Pratyaydipta Rudra, John P. Buchweitz and Justin Zyskowski.

The direct object identifier (DOI) for that additional information is: https://doi.org/10.1638/2023-0124. This DOI is a link to an online electronic document that is either free or for purchase, and can be your direct source for a journal article and its citation.

(Our reports deliver fact-based news of research and discoveries from around the world.)