Larissa Betanzos-Robledo1, Alejandra Cantoral2, Karen E Peterson3, Howard Hu4, Mauricio Hernández-Ávila5, Wei Perng6, Erica Jansen3, Adrienne S Ettinger7, Adriana Mercado-García1, Maritsa Solano-González1, Brisa Sánchez8, Martha M Téllez-Rojo1. 1. National Council of Science and Technology, National Institute of Public Health, Mexico City, MX, Mexico. 2. Department of Health, Universidad Iberoamericana, Mexico City, MX, Mexico. Electronic address: alejandra.cantoral@ibero.mx. 3. Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. 4. Department of Preventive Medicine Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, USA. 5. Mexican Institute of Social Security, Mexico City, Mexico. 6. Department of Epidemiology, Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes (LEAD) Center, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA. 7. Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, New Brunswick, NJ, USA. 8. Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Exposure to environmental toxicants may play a role in the pathogenesis of Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD). Cumulative exposure to lead (Pb) has chronic and permanent effects on liver function. Pediatric populations are vulnerable to the toxic effects of Pb, even at low exposure levels. The purpose of the study was to estimate the association between cumulative Pb exposure during childhood and hepatic steatosis biomarkers in young Mexican adults. METHODS: A subsample of 93 participants from the ELEMENT cohort were included in this study. Childhood blood samples were collected annually from ages 1-4 years and were used to calculate the Cumulative Childhood Blood Lead Levels (CCBLL). Hepatic steatosis during adulthood was defined as an excessive accumulation of hepatic triglycerides (>5%) determined using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Liver enzymes were also measured at this time, and elevated liver enzyme levels were defined as ALT (≥30 IU/L), AST (≥30 IU/L), and GGT (≥40 IU/L). Adjusted linear regression models were fit to examine the association between CCBLL (quartiles) and the hepatic steatosis in young adulthood. RESULTS: In adulthood, the mean age was 21.4 years, 55% were male. The overall prevalence of hepatic steatosis by MRI was 19%. Elevate levels of the enzymes ALT, AST, and GGT were present in 25%, 15%, and 17% of the sample, respectively. We found a positive association between the highest quartile of CCBLL with the steatosis biomarkers of hepatic triglycerides (Q4 vs. Q1: β = 6.07, 95% CI: 1.91-10.21), elevated ALT (Q4 vs. Q1: β = 14.5, 95% CI: 1.39-27.61) and elevated AST (Q4 vs. Q1: β = 7.23, 95% CI: 0.64-13.82). No significant associations were found with GGT. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic Pb exposure during early childhood is associated with a higher levels of hepatic steatosis biomarkers and hepatocellular injury in young adulthood. More actions should be taken to eliminate sources of Pb during the first years of life.
BACKGROUND: Exposure to environmental toxicants may play a role in the pathogenesis of Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD). Cumulative exposure to lead (Pb) has chronic and permanent effects on liver function. Pediatric populations are vulnerable to the toxic effects of Pb, even at low exposure levels. The purpose of the study was to estimate the association between cumulative Pb exposure during childhood and hepatic steatosis biomarkers in young Mexican adults. METHODS: A subsample of 93 participants from the ELEMENT cohort were included in this study. Childhood blood samples were collected annually from ages 1-4 years and were used to calculate the Cumulative Childhood Blood Lead Levels (CCBLL). Hepatic steatosis during adulthood was defined as an excessive accumulation of hepatic triglycerides (>5%) determined using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Liver enzymes were also measured at this time, and elevated liver enzyme levels were defined as ALT (≥30 IU/L), AST (≥30 IU/L), and GGT (≥40 IU/L). Adjusted linear regression models were fit to examine the association between CCBLL (quartiles) and the hepatic steatosis in young adulthood. RESULTS: In adulthood, the mean age was 21.4 years, 55% were male. The overall prevalence of hepatic steatosis by MRI was 19%. Elevate levels of the enzymes ALT, AST, and GGT were present in 25%, 15%, and 17% of the sample, respectively. We found a positive association between the highest quartile of CCBLL with the steatosis biomarkers of hepatic triglycerides (Q4 vs. Q1: β = 6.07, 95% CI: 1.91-10.21), elevated ALT (Q4 vs. Q1: β = 14.5, 95% CI: 1.39-27.61) and elevated AST (Q4 vs. Q1: β = 7.23, 95% CI: 0.64-13.82). No significant associations were found with GGT. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic Pb exposure during early childhood is associated with a higher levels of hepatic steatosis biomarkers and hepatocellular injury in young adulthood. More actions should be taken to eliminate sources of Pb during the first years of life.
Authors: Banrida Wahlang; Jian Jin; Juliane I Beier; Josiah E Hardesty; Erica F Daly; Regina D Schnegelberger; K Cameron Falkner; Russell A Prough; Irina A Kirpich; Matthew C Cave Journal: Curr Environ Health Rep Date: 2019-09
Authors: Wei Perng; Marcela Tamayo-Ortiz; Lu Tang; Brisa N Sánchez; Alejandra Cantoral; John D Meeker; Dana C Dolinoy; Elizabeth F Roberts; Esperanza Angeles Martinez-Mier; Hector Lamadrid-Figueroa; Peter X K Song; Adrienne S Ettinger; Robert Wright; Manish Arora; Lourdes Schnaas; Deborah J Watkins; Jaclyn M Goodrich; Robin C Garcia; Maritsa Solano-Gonzalez; Luis F Bautista-Arredondo; Adriana Mercado-Garcia; Howard Hu; Mauricio Hernandez-Avila; Martha Maria Tellez-Rojo; Karen E Peterson Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2019-08-26 Impact factor: 2.692