Association Between Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Heavy Metal Exposure: a Systematic Review

Sadighara, Parisa; Abedini, Amir Hossein; Irshad, Namra; Ghazi‐Khansari, Mahmoud; Esrafili, Ali; Yousefi, Mahmood

doi:10.1007/s12011-023-03629-9

Cited by 31 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 51 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In addition to autism and ADHD, heavy metal exposures, especially Cd, Pb, and Hg, are positively associated with the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease[ 92 ] and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease[ 93 ]. From a toxicological perspective, it is interesting to note that non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is associated with ultra-processed food intake in a dose-response manner similar to the dose-response relationship showing heavy metal toxicity[ 94 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nutritional epigenetics education improves diet and attitude of parents of children with autism or attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder

Dufault,

Adler,

Carpenter

et al. 2024

World J Psychiatry

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BACKGROUND Unhealthy maternal diet leads to heavy metal exposures from the consumption of ultra-processed foods that may impact gene behavior across generations, creating conditions for the neurodevelopmental disorders known as autism and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Children with these disorders have difficulty metabolizing and excreting heavy metals from their bloodstream, and the severity of their symptoms correlates with the heavy metal levels measured in their blood. Psychiatrists may play a key role in helping parents reduce their ultra-processed food and dietary heavy metal intake by providing access to effective nutritional epigenetics education. AIM To test the efficacy of nutritional epigenetics instruction in reducing parental ultra-processed food intake. METHODS The study utilized a semi-randomized test and control group pretest-posttest pilot study design with participants recruited from parents having a learning-disabled child with autism or ADHD. Twenty-two parents who met the inclusion criteria were randomly selected to serve in the test (n = 11) or control (n = 11) group. The test group participated in the six-week online nutritional epigenetics tutorial, while the control group did not. The efficacy of the nutritional epigenetics instruction was determined by measuring changes in parent diet and attitude using data derived from an online diet survey administered to the participants during the pre and post intervention periods. Diet intake scores were derived for both ultra-processed and whole/organic foods. Paired sample t -tests were conducted to determine any differences in mean diet scores within each group. RESULTS There was a significant difference in the diet scores of the test group between the pre- and post-intervention periods. The parents in the test group significantly reduced their intake of ultra-processed foods with a pre-intervention diet score of 70 (mean = 5.385, SD = 2.534) and a post-intervention diet score of 113 (mean = 8.692, SD = 1.750) and the paired t -test analysis showing a significance of P < 0.001. The test group also significantly increased their consumption of whole and/or organic foods with a pre-intervention diet score of 100 (mean = 5.882, SD = 2.472) and post-intervention diet score of 121 (mean = 7.118, SD = 2.390) and the paired t -test analysis showing a significance of P < 0.05. CONCLUSION Here we show nutritional epigenetics education can be used to reduce ultra-processed food intake and improve attitude among parents having learning-disabled children with autism or ADHD.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nutritional epigenetics education improves diet and attitude of parents of children with autism or attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder

Dufault,

Adler,

Carpenter

et al. 2024

World J Psychiatry

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The oxidative stress caused by these metals, by rising levels of oxidative damage in a cell, destroys lipids, proteins, and DNA molecules, and supports carcinogenesis. Exposure to environmental heavy metals, especially through ingestion and inhalation, plays a role in the development of NAFLD even in lean men [ 124 , 125 , 126 , 127 , 128 , 129 , 130 , 131 , 132 , 133 ].…”

Section: Nutrition Environmental Pollutants and Nafldmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the body, Cd accumulates mainly in the liver, where it causes hepatotoxicity [ 126 , 134 ]. Several population-based studies indicate that environmental Cd is a tangible risk factor for NAFLD [ 125 , 127 , 128 ]. Elevated urinary Cd levels have been found to correlate with markers of NAFLD/NASH, hepatic necroinflammation, and cytokine levels [ 129 , 135 ].…”

Section: Nutrition Environmental Pollutants and Nafldmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sex, Nutrition, and NAFLD: Relevance of Environmental Pollution

Dolce

Torre

2023

Nutrients

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common form of chronic liver disease and represents an increasing public health issue given the limited treatment options and its association with several other metabolic and inflammatory disorders. The epidemic, still growing prevalence of NAFLD worldwide cannot be merely explained by changes in diet and lifestyle that occurred in the last few decades, nor from their association with genetic and epigenetic risk factors. It is conceivable that environmental pollutants, which act as endocrine and metabolic disruptors, may contribute to the spreading of this pathology due to their ability to enter the food chain and be ingested through contaminated food and water. Given the strict interplay between nutrients and the regulation of hepatic metabolism and reproductive functions in females, pollutant-induced metabolic dysfunctions may be of particular relevance for the female liver, dampening sex differences in NAFLD prevalence. Dietary intake of environmental pollutants can be particularly detrimental during gestation, when endocrine-disrupting chemicals may interfere with the programming of liver metabolism, accounting for the developmental origin of NAFLD in offspring. This review summarizes cause–effect evidence between environmental pollutants and increased incidence of NAFLD and emphasizes the need for further studies in this field.

show abstract

“…However, measurements of urine metals should be combined with clinical effect markers of target organs before drawing conclusions regarding the effects of metal AM. Metal exposure can effect various organs, such as kidney ( 24 ), liver ( 25 , 26 ), and the cardiovascular system ( 27 , 28 ). Functional status of these organs can be assessed using common clinical markers including liver markers aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT), alanine aminotransferase (ALAT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in blood, as well as the urine marker of alpha-1-microglobulin (α-1-M) that could identify renal tubular damage ( 29 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Occupational exposure and health surveys at metal additive manufacturing facilities

Assenhöj,

Almstrand,

Kokelj

et al. 2023

Front. Public Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

IntroductionAdditive manufacturing is a novel state-of-the art technology with significant economic and practical advantages, including the ability to produce complex structures on demand while reducing the need of stocking materials and products. Additive manufacturing is a technology that is here to stay; however, new technologies bring new challenges, not only technical but also from an occupational health and safety perspective. Herein, leading Swedish companies using metal additive manufacturing were studied with the aim of investigating occupational exposure and the utility of chosen exposure- and clinical markers as predictors of potential exposure-related health risks.MethodsExposure levels were investigated by analysis of airborne dust and metals, alongside particle counting instruments measuring airborne particles in the range of 10 nm−10 μm to identify dusty work tasks. Health examinations were performed on a total of 48 additive manufacturing workers and 39 controls. All participants completed a questionnaire, underwent spirometry, and blood and urine sampling. A subset underwent further lung function tests.ResultsExposure to inhalable dust and metals were low, but particle counting instruments identified specific work tasks with high particle emissions. Examined health parameters were well within reference values on a group level. However, statistical analysis implied an impact on workers kidney function and possible airway inflammation.ConclusionThe methodology was successful for investigating exposure-related health risks in additive manufacturing. However, most participants have been working <5 years. Therefore, long-term studies are needed before we can conclusively accept or reject the observed effects on health.

show abstract

Association Between Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Heavy Metal Exposure: a Systematic Review

Cited by 31 publications

References 51 publications

Nutritional epigenetics education improves diet and attitude of parents of children with autism or attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder

Nutritional epigenetics education improves diet and attitude of parents of children with autism or attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder

Sex, Nutrition, and NAFLD: Relevance of Environmental Pollution

Occupational exposure and health surveys at metal additive manufacturing facilities

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About