Rice Intake, Arsenic Exposure, and Subclinical Cardiovascular Disease Among US Adults in MESA

Abstract

Background Arsenic‐related cardiovascular effects at exposure levels below the US Environmental Protection Agency's standard of 10 μg/L are unclear. For these populations, food, especially rice, is a major source of exposure. We investigated associations of rice intake, a marker of arsenic exposure, with subclinical cardiovascular disease (CVD) markers in a multiethnic population. Methods and Results Between 2000 and 2002, MESA (Multi‐Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis) enrolled 6814 adults without clinical CVD . We included 5050 participants with baseline data on rice intake and markers of 3 CVD domains: inflammation (hsCRP [high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein], interleukin‐6, and fibrinogen), vascular function (aortic distensibility, carotid distensibility, and brachial flow‐mediated dilation), and subclinical atherosclerosis at 3 vascular sites (carotid intima‐media thickness, coronary artery calcification, and ankle‐brachial index). We also evaluated endothelial‐related biomarkers previously associated with arsenic. Rice intake was assessed by food frequency questionnaire. Urinary arsenic was measured in 310 participants. A total of 13% of participants consumed ≥1 serving of rice/day. Compared with individuals consuming <1 serving of rice/week, ≥1 serving of rice/day was not associated with subclinical markers after demographic, lifestyle, and CVD risk factor adjustment (eg, geometric mean ratio [95% CI ] for hs CRP , 0.98 [0.86–1.11]; aortic distensibility, 0.99 [0.91–1.07]; and carotid intima‐media thickness, 0.98 [0.91–1.06]). Associations with urinary arsenic were similar to those for rice intake. Conclusions Rice intake was not associated with subclinical CVD markers in a multiethnic US population. Research using urinary arsenic is needed to assess potential CVD effects of low‐level arsenic exposure. Understanding the role of low‐level arsenic as it relates to subclinical CVD may contribute to CVD prevention and control.

Association between urinary arsenic, blood cadmium, blood lead, and blood mercury levels and serum prostate-specific antigen in a population-based cohort of men in the United States

“…Total urinary As and urinary DMA were found not to be associated with elevated serum PSA, even after accounting for urinary arsenobetaine which is typically used as a measure of overall seafood exposure [ 23 ]. The present study findings are consistent with a previous study that found no difference in total serum PSA between men exposed compared to men not exposed to high concentrations of As in drinking water [ 31 ].…”

“…The limit of detection (LOD) for total urinary As and urinary DMA was 0.83% and 12.1%, respectively [ 22 ]. Urinary arsenobetaine (LOD = 27.6%) was included in the sub-analysis to account for the influence of non-toxic seafood have on toxic As [ 23 ]. For total urinary As, urinary DMA, and urinary arsenobetaine, levels that were below LOD were divided by the square-root of two.…”

“…For the total urinary As and urinary DMA analyses, urinary creatinine was included in all logistic regression models. In sub-analyses, urinary levels of total As and DMA were regressed on arsenobetaine to account for the influence nontoxic seafood As have on total As and DMA at low levels of exposure; details of this methodology were described elsewhere [ 23 ]. The interaction term between race and each heavy metal level was included in each logistic regression model and was excluded in the model if it was not statistically significant.…”

Arsenite Inhibits Tissue-Type Plasminogen Activator Synthesis through NRF2 Activation in Cultured Human Vascular Endothelial EA.hy926 Cells

“…Recently, Podgorski and Berg estimated that 94 to 220 million people are potentially exposed to high concentrations of arsenic in groundwater worldwide [ 3 ]. Chronic arsenic exposure has been implicated in the development of various diseases, such as skin lesions, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, peripheral vascular disorders (e.g., Blackfoot disease), neuropathy, cancer, and arteriosclerosis [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ]. Therefore, elucidating the mechanism of arsenic toxicity is important for the prevention and treatment of these diseases.…”

MBP‐activated autoimmunity plays a role in arsenic‐induced peripheral neuropathy and the potential protective effect of mecobalamin

“…It was estimated that approximate 200 million people all over the world were affected by high level of As in drinking water, with the most serious situation in Bengal Delta 1,2 . In rice‐producing area, As could be accumulated in rice through irrigation with As‐contaminated water, and consumption of rice was reported to be a prominent intake pathway in these districts 3,4 . As was reported having deleterious effects on almost every system of human body and related to the occurrences of skin cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and peripheralneuropathy 5,6 …”