Fish consumption, mercury exposure, and the risk of cholesterol profiles: findings from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2010-2011

Abstract

In this study, the associations between mercury (Hg) exposure and cholesterol profiles were analyzed, and increased Hg levels and cholesterol profiles according to the amount of fish consumption were evaluated. Data on levels of blood Hg, the frequency of fish consumption, total blood cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and triglyceride (TG) in 3951 adults were obtained from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2010-2011 database. To compare the distribution for each log-transformed indicator, Student’s t-test and analysis of variance were carried out, and the groups were classified according to the frequency of fish consumption through linear regression analysis; the association between Hg level and cholesterol profiles in each group was analyzed. The blood Hg levels (arithmetic mean, median, and geometric mean) for all target participants were 4.59, 3.66, and 3.74 µg/L, respectively. The high cholesterol group, low HDL-C group, and high TG group showed a statistically and significantly higher blood Hg level than the low-risk group. In both sexes, as the frequency of fish consumption increased, blood Hg level also increased, but TC, HDL-C, LDL-C, and TG did not show a similar trend. Increased blood Hg level showed a significant association with increased TC and LDL-C. This statistical significance was maintained in the group with less frequent fish consumption (<4 times per month), but the group with frequent fish consumption (>8 times per month) did not show a similar trend. The results of this study suggest that fish consumption increases the level of Hg exposure, and that as the level of Hg exposure increases, the levels of cholesterol profiles increase. However, this study also suggests that the levels of cholesterol profiles in those with frequent fish consumption can be diminished.

The association between heavy metal and serum cholesterol levels in the US population: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2009–2012

“…31 Another study showed a positive association between Hg exposure, total cholesterol, and LDL-C levels. 32 As expected, our study is not without limitations. Like any other cross-sectional study, it focused more on prevalence rather than incidence.…”

“…31 Another study showed a positive association between Hg exposure, total cholesterol, and LDL-C levels. 32…”

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

“…For example, Kristal-Boneh et al showed that the subjects exposed to lead had higher serum total cholesterol levels compared to those that did not 33 . Cho et al also found a strong link between mercury exposure, LDL-C levels, and total cholesterol in the Korean general population 34 . In vivo studies also showed that an increase in serum cadmium levels was associated with increased levels of serum total cholesterol, LDL-C and triglyceride, and reduced HDL-C and glutathione levels 35 , 36 .…”

Identification of hypertriglyceridemia based on bone density, body fat mass, and anthropometry in a Korean population

“…Hypertriglyceridemia is defined as abnormal TG levels in the blood and is associated with other lipid and metabolic derangements [ 43 ]. Hypertriglyceridemia is defined as fasting TG levels ≥200 mg/dL according to the recommendation of the NCEP and previous studies [ 24 , 44 , 45 ]. Therefore, in this study, hypertriglyceridemia was defined as fasting TG levels ≥200 mg/dL.…”