The gender differences in health effects of environmental cadmium exposure and potential mechanisms

Abstract

On a viewpoint of gender differences in Cd body burden and its health effects, we reviewed the population-based research including our own which conducted in Japan, Thailand, Australia, Poland, Belgium and Sweden to assess health effects of human exposure to environmental cadmium and their potential mechanisms. As a result, six risk factors in Cd health effects in women have been identified; (1) more serious type of renal tubular dysfunction, (2) difference in calcium metabolism and its regulatory hormones, (3) kidney sensitivity; difference in P450 phenotype, (4) pregnancy, (5) body iron store status, and (6) genetic factors. Further studies of Cd toxicity targeted to women would now appear necessary.

Kidney Cadmium Toxicity, Diabetes and High Blood Pressure: The Perfect Storm

“…Increased risk of death from ischemic heart disease, and increased incidence of diabetes and renal disease were seen in both men and women with signs of kidney effects, but excess risk of cancer of kidney, urinary tract, uterus, colon and rectum were seen in women only. More severe outcomes of Cd exposure in women than men have been noted in a previous report (Nishijo et al 2004). Increased risk of death among people showing signs of Cd kidney toxicity could be interpreted to suggest that that such kidney Cd toxicity may be an early warning of complications, sub-clinical or clinical morbidity.…”

“…Impaired tubular reabsorption of glucose has been noted in high-dose exposure situations (Nishijo et al 2004;Honda et al 2010). Such increased urinary glucose excretion may be indicative of mitochondrial toxicity of Cd in proximal tubular cells, affecting oxidative phosphorylation and ATP output (Gobe and Crane, 2010).…”

Cadmium concentration in biological media of breast cancer patients

“…One of them could be low body iron stores that increase Cd absorption [36]. There is also evidence for increased sensitivity to Cd toxicities in women [37].…”

Cadmium exposure induced itai-itai-like syndrome in male rats

“…For a half century, it had been known that women may be more affected by cadmium than men [14,21]. Recently, experimental studies suggested that cadmium effects on serum levels of calciotropic hormones and disorders in calcium and phosphate metabolism were higher in female than in male rats [12].…”