Association between Heavy Metal Exposure and Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in Adults of South Korea

Kim

2021

Antioxidants

The burden of metabolic syndrome (MetS) has increased worldwide, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, and this phenomenon is related to environmental, dietary, and lifestyle risk factors. We aimed to determine the association between the levels of serum heavy metals, hs-CRP, vitamins, and curry intake and to predict risks of MetS based on marginal effects. A data set of 60,256 Koreans aged ≥ 15 years between 2009 and 2017 was used to obtain information on sociodemographic, lifestyle, family history characteristics, MetS, food intake survey, and serum heavy metals. Daily intake of vitamins was measured by a one-day 24 h recall, and curry consumption was calculated using a food frequency questionnaire. Serum heavy metal levels were quantified by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry and using a mercury analyzer. We found that vitamin B1, B2, B3, C, and A intakes were significantly lower in subjects with than without MetS. In contrast, serum levels of Pb, Hg, Cd, vitamin A, E, and hs-CRP were significantly higher in subjects with MetS. The risk of MetS was significantly lower for high curry consumers than low curry consumers (adjusted odds ratio 0.85, 95%CI 0.74–0.98). The risks of MetS were reduced by 12% and 1%, when vitamin B1 and C intakes increased by one mg, respectively, but were increased by 14%, 3%, and 9%, when serum levels of Pb, Hg, and hs-CRP increased by one unit. These results show that the potential health benefits resulting from vitamin and curry intakes could protect the public against the dual burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases. Further studies are required to reduce risk factors associated with serum heavy metal levels and to determine whether interactions between vitamin and curry consumption influence the presence of MetS.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Antioxidant Vitamins, Curry Consumption, and Heavy Metal Levels on Metabolic Syndrome with Comorbidities: A Korean Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Kim

2021

Antioxidants

“…Although numerous researchers have attempted to identify associations between heavy metals and hypertension, the majority focused on the effect of a single heavy metal on industrial workers, general populations, children, or pregnant women. [9][10][11][12] Somewhat surprisingly, the role played by heavy metals in the development of hypertension in pre-and postmenopausal women has not been well studied. Humans are exposed to heavy metals by ingestion, inhalation, or dermal contact, 13 and as a result, the average person is exposed simultaneously to a wide range of heavy metals, which can result in interactions between heavy metals.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

Effects of heavy metals on hypertension during menopause: a Korean community-based cross-sectional study

Kim

2021

Menopause

Objective: To examine the associations between serum cadmium, lead, and mercury and hypertension in pre- and postmenopausal women. Methods: Serum heavy metal (cadmium, lead, and mercury) levels were analyzed in 7,226 randomly selected women who participated in Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys from 2009 to 2017. Odds ratios (ORs) for hypertension were calculated for log2-transformed serum heavy metal levels, median tertile levels of serum cadmium, mercury, and lead, and for interactions between heavy metal levels and tertiles, after covariate adjustment. Results: A doubling of serum cadmium was associated with hypertension in premenopausal (OR 2.47; 95% CI, 1.01-6.10, P = 0.049) and postmenopausal women (OR 1.70; 95% CI, 1.02-2.84, P = 0.043), and significant trends were observed for cadmium tertiles (P < 0.01). In premenopausal women, a two-fold increase in serum mercury increased the OR of hypertension by 3.08 (95% CI, 1.12-8.43, P = 0.029), and significant trends were also observed for serum mercury tertiles (P < 0.01). Interactions between serum cadmium, lead, and mercury levels in pre- and postmenopausal women were found to impact the prevalence of hypertension. Conclusion: Given increasing exposure to heavy metals in Korea, further prospective study is needed to identify associations between heavy metal exposures, both separately and in combination, with the prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors in well-characterized cohorts of different populations and to determine means of preventing heavy metal exposure.

“…Heavy metals such as cadmium, lead or mercury are toxic to the human body and can trigger different diseases, especially CVDs 44 . As a result, the prevalence of CVDs and exposure to heavy metal in Korea tends to be increasing 45 – 47 , these have worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic 48 . Unfortunately, the dramatic global increase in urbanization and industrialization has increased the risk of exposure to heavy metals 32 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Association between heavy metals, high-sensitivity C-reaction protein and 10-year risk of cardiovascular diseases among adult Korean population

Hoang

et al. 2021

Sci Rep

The prevalence of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in Korea tends to be increasing. It has worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic. Increasing evidence shows heavy metals are associated with increased CVD risk. We aimed to determine the association between the serum heavy metal levels and 10-year risk of CVDs and to predict risks of CVDs based on marginal effects. Heavy metals were measured by a graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry and direct mercury analyzer. The results show a significant relationship between the increase in cadmium, lead, mercury, hs-CRP levels and the 10-year risk of CVD after adjustment for serum cotinine, age group, sex, body mass index, a family history of CVDs, diabetes or hyperlipidemia, high-risk drinking, physical activity, and diabetes. A doubling of serum cadmium, lead, mercury, and hs-CRP was associated with the increase in the 10-year risk of CVD by 0.14%, 0.10%, 0.11% and 0.22%, respectively. Therefore, a special concern should be given to the harmful impacts of heavy metals on the 10-year risk of CVD. It is important to develop a prevention strategy targeting the high-risk population to slow down this progression to risk factors related to heavy metals and reduce prevalence. Remarkedly, hs-CRP is the most validated and widely used inflammatory marker, and could be a potential clinical value in predicting and monitoring CVDs.