Association between Bone Turnover, Micronutrient Intake, and Blood Lead Levels in Pre-and Postmenopausal Women, NHANES 1999–2002

Abstract

BackgroundBlood lead levels (BLLs) have been shown to increase during periods of high bone turnover such as pregnancy and menopause.ObjectivesWe examined the associations between bone turnover and micronutrient intake with BLLs in women 20–85 years of age (n = 2,671) participating in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999–2002.MethodsSerum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP) and urinary cross-linked N-telopeptides (NTx) were measured as markers of bone formation and resorption, respectively. Lead was quantified in whole blood. The association between tertiles of BAP and NTx, and BLLs was examined using linear regression with natural log-transformed BLLs as the dependent variable and interpreted as the percent difference in geometric mean BLLs.ResultsIn adjusted analyses, mean BLLs among postmenopausal women in the upper tertiles of NTx and BAP were 34% [95% confidence interval (CI), 23%–45%] and 30% (95% CI, 17%–43%) higher than BLLs among women in the lowest tertiles of NTx and BAP, respectively. These associations were weaker, but remained statistically significant, among premenopausal women (NTx: 10%; 95% CI, 0.60%–19%; BAP: 14%; 95% CI, 6%–22%). Within tertiles of NTx and BAP, calcium intake above the Dietary Reference Intake (DRI), compared with below the DRI, was associated with lower mean BLLs among postmenopausal women but not premenopausal women, although most of the associations were not statistically significant. We observed similar associations for vitamin D supplement use.ConclusionsBone resorption and bone formation were associated with a significant increase in BLLs among pre-and postmenopausal women.

Blood Lead Concentration Is Not Altered by High‐Dose Vitamin D Supplementation in Children and Young Adults With HIV

“…We did not find a positive association between 25D and blood lead and there was no increase in blood lead during the summer months in our 8–24 years old sample of subjects. Jackson et al (8) found that the use of vitamin D supplements (by report) in the past month was associated with significantly lower adjusted mean blood lead levels in postmenopausal women suggesting that one month of vitamin D supplementation per se did not increase blood lead in these women. The association between high dose vitamin D 3 supplementation and blood lead in contemporary groups of infants and pre-school children remains to be evaluated.…”

“…However, Kersey et al (7) found no association between serum vitamin D and blood lead concentration in low income children. Additionally, Jackson et al (8) demonstrated an inverse association between blood lead levels and vitamin D supplementation, and increased blood lead levels during periods of increased bone turnover.…”

Effects of thirty elements on bone metabolism

“…Lead causes growth retardation by inhibiting endochondral ossification. Increased bone turnover and reduced mineralization rates combine to decrease bone mineral density and mass, and, in the most severe cases, cause osteoporosis [153][154][155][156][157][158][159][160][161][162][163][164].…”

The association between cadmium, lead and mercury blood levels and reproductive hormones among healthy, premenopausal women

“…Blood lead levels in premenopausal, non-pregnant women primarily represent current exposures to lead through contaminated food or water, home renovations, lead-glazed pottery, certain health care products and/or folk remedies [Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), 1990], as well as bone lead stores released during bone turnover (Jackson et al, 2010). Generally, adult exposures to lead are low, unless one is exposed occupationally.…”