Lead exposure is non-linearly associated with subclinical myocardial injury in the general population without cardiovascular disease

Abstract

Background and aimsGrowing studies have focused on the effect of lead exposure on human circulatory system, while the relationship between lead exposure and subclinical myocardial injury (SC-MI) is still poorly known. Therefore, this study was to explore the effect of lead exposure on SC-MI.MethodsThe study included 6,272 individuals aged 40 and older without cardiovascular disease (CVD) from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Blood lead was used as an alternative marker of lead exposure. Multivariable logistic regression models, restricted cubic spline and threshold effect analyses were performed to investigate the effect of blood lead on SC-MI.ResultsAfter adjusting for age, sex, race, diabetes, hypertension, systolic blood pressure, body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, triglycerides, total cholesterol, creatinine, fasting plasma glucose and hemoglobin Alc, higher blood lead level was independently related to higher risk of SC-MI (OR 1.047, 95% CI [1.018, 1.077]; P = 0.003). Restricted cubic spline curve showed that there was a non-linear correlation between blood lead and SC-MI. Threshold effect analysis determined that the inflection point of blood lead was 3.8 ug/dl. When the blood lead level was higher than 3.8 ug/dl, there was an independent positive correlation between blood lead level and the risk of SC-MI (OR 1.031, 95% CI [1.009, 1.053]; P < 0.01). And similar associations were also observed among subgroups of male, ≤60 years, >60 years, never smoker, non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black or without hypertension and diabetes.ConclusionsBlood lead was non-linearly related to SC-MI in population free from CVD.

The Contribution of Declines in Blood Lead Levels to Reductions in Blood Pressure Levels: Longitudinal Evidence in the Strong Heart Family Study

“…Findings from the general US population using NHANES data have reported associations between increasing blood lead and subclinical myocardial injury. 53 Various studies performed in occupationally exposed populations have also identified a variety of cardiovascular measures associated with blood lead, 10 including increased prevalence of LV hypertrophy, 54 higher left ventricular mass, and lower ejection fraction. 55 Previous findings from the SHFS identified the association of higher urinary arsenic levels with higher levels of LV wall thickness and LV hypertrophy.…”

Environmental Pollution and Cardiovascular Disease

“… 48 A recent study found a positive correlation between the risk of subclinical myocardial injury, assessed with a 12-lead electrocardiogram-based cardiac infarction/injury score, and BLLs higher than 3.8 ug/dL. 49 A Mexican study also reported a significant association between lead exposure and an increase in body mass index, with BLLs averaging 0.051 ± 0.035 μg/dL, 0.107 ± 0.067 μg/dL, and 0.151 ± 0.063 μg/dL in individuals with normal weight, overweight, and obesity, respectively. 50 Supplemental Table 3 summarizes the major studies on the association between lead and CVD.…”

Recent Progress on Fluorescent Probes in Heavy Metal Determinations for Food Safety: A Review

“…Molecules 2023, 27, x FOR PEER REVIEW 2 of 39 damage to the mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract and proximal renal tubules, which manifests clinically as abdominal pain, hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, acute tubular necrosis, and subacute shock [10,11]. The pathophysiological toxicity of lead (Pb) is fairly complicated as it involves almost every organ system, with the most severe neurological manifestations being seizures and coma [12][13][14]. Cadmium (Cd) can disrupt iron homeostasis in humans by inducing hyperactivation of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and disrupting lipid metabolism, which ultimately leads to iron apoptosis [15][16][17][18].…”