Relationship Between Serum Levels of Arsenic, Cadmium, and Mercury and Body Mass Index and Fasting Plasma Glucose in a Mexican Adult Population

In Mexico, few studies have analyzed the associations between toxic elements and metabolic diseases. In the present study, we analyzed the associations between serum arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and mercury (Hg) levels and body mass index (BMI) and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) in a Mexican adult population. Anthropometric data corresponding to 86 Mexican healthy adults (59 females and 27 men) were analyzed. FPG was analyzed by an enzymatic colorimetric method, and serum As, Cd, and Hg levels were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The data show that the median serum As, Cd, and Hg levels were relatively higher in females (As = 1.78 ng mL, Cd = 1.00 ng mL, Hg = 0.96 ng mL) than those in males (As = 1.22 ng mL, Cd = 0.91 ng mL, Hg = 0.95 ng mL). However, these differences were not statistically significant (p ≥ 0.097). We also found that the median level of As significantly increased with an increase in the body weight categories (normal weight = 1.08; overweight = 1.50; obesity = 2.75; p < 0.001). In addition, a positive association between serum As levels and FPG before and after adjustment for BMI was demonstrated (Rho = 0.012; (RhoA = 0.243, p = 0.032). Serum As levels are positively associated with BMI and FPG in the adult population of Mexico. Nevertheless, these results need to be replicated and confirmed with a larger sample size.