Low Serum Testosterone Levels Are Associated with Elevated Urinary Mandelic Acid, and Strontium Levels in Adult Men According to the US 2011–2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Abstract

BackgroundLittle is known regarding the effects of environmental exposure of chemicals on androgenic system in the general population. We studied 5,107 subjects included in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2011–2012).MethodsUrinary, serum, and blood levels of 15 subclasses comprising 110 individual chemicals were analyzed for their association with serum testosterone levels. The subjects were divided into high and low testosterone groups according to the median testosterone concentration (374.51 ng/dL). Odds ratios (ORs) of individual chemicals in association with testosterone were estimated using logistic regression after adjusting for age, ethnicity, cotinine, body mass index, creatinine, alcohol, and the poverty income ratio.ResultsAdjusted ORs for the highest versus lowest quartiles of exposure were 2.12 (95% CI: 1.07, 4.21; Ptrend = 0.044), 1.84 (95% CI: 1.02, 3.34; Ptrend = 0.018) for the association between urinary mandelic acid, and strontium quartiles with low testosterone concentrations in adult men, respectively. However, no association was observed for the remaining chemicals with testosterone.ConclusionsThe National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data suggest that elevations in urinary mandelic acid, and strontium levels are negatively related to low serum testosterone levels in adult men.

Relationship between Selected Serum Metallic Elements and Obesity in Children and Adolescent in the U.S.

“…We used information from the questionnaire, laboratory, diet, and physical examination components of the NHANES, which included blood collection. We examined the association of serum metallic elements with obesity and metabolism-related indicators in children and adolescents who participated in the NHANES [ 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ]. Subjects aged 6–19 years in the NHANES 2011–2014 were selected from a random subgroup for the measurement of serum metals.…”

Associations between lead concentrations and cardiovascular risk factors in U.S. adolescents

“…Serum cotinine, a marker of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, was categorized as less than the limit of detection (0.011 ng/mL), low exposure (0.011–10 ng/mL), and high exposure (≥10 ng/mL) 29 . The PIR was calculated by dividing household income by the poverty guidelines specific to the survey year, as also used in a previous study 30 . We also evaluated the PIR as a potential confounder in binary categories: low (<1), and high (≥1).…”