Association Between Urinary Lead and Bone Health in a General Population from Taiwan

Overview

Journal J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol

Specialties Environmental Health
Public Health

Date 2015 Jul 9

PMID 26152405

Citations 8

Authors

Tsung-Lin Tsai

Wen-Harn Pan

Yu-Teh Chung

Trong-Neng Wu

Ying-Chih Tseng

Saou-Hsing Liou

Shu-Li Wang

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Lead accumulates in adult bones for many decades; previous studies have shown lead's detrimental effects on osteoblast and osteoclast activity in association with bone remodeling. Osteoporosis is a disease of the bones resulting in low bone mass that induces fragile bones and hence susceptibility of fracture. We estimated the association between urinary lead (U-Pb) levels and bone health in adults participating in the third Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan (NAHSIT) from 2005 to 2008. A total of 398 participants were divided into normal (T-score>-1), osteopenic (T-score between -1 and -2.5), or osteoporotic (T-score<-2.5) groups according to the results of bone mineral density (BMD) measurements. Heavy metals were measured in urine specimens using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, age (OR=1.08; 95% CI=1.05-1.10), former smokers (OR=2.95; 95% CI=1.22-7.11) and higher U-Pb levels than upper tertile (OR=2.30; 95% CI=1.19-4.48) were associated with osteopenia/osteoporosis. Furthermore, age (OR=1.06; 95% CI=1.02-1.10) and higher U-Pb levels (OR=2.81; 95% CI=1.13-6.97) were significantly associated with osteopenia and osteoporosis in women. These results suggest that adults, particularly in women, with higher U-Pb levels may have increased odds of osteopenia and osteoporosis.

Citing Articles

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Alcohol Consumption Moderated the Association Between Levels of High Blood Lead or Total Urinary Arsenic and Bone Loss.

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Assessment of Bone Turnover Biomarkers in Lead-Battery Workers with Long-Term Exposure to Lead.

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