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Association between cumulative childhood blood lead exposure and hepatic steatosis in young Mexican adults
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Association between cumulative childhood blood lead exposure and hepatic steatosis in young Mexican adults

Larissa Betanzos-Robledo, Alejandra Cantoral, Karen E. Peterson, Howard Hu, Mauricio Hernández-Ávila, Wei Perng, Erica Jansen, Adrienne S. Ettinger, Adriana Mercado-García, Maritsa Solano-González, …
Environmental research, v 196, 110980
May 2021
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2021.110980
PMID: 33691159
Featured in Collection :   UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
url
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8119339View
Accepted (AM)Open Access (License Unspecified),  Open

Abstract

Endocrine disruptors Environmental health Hepatic steatosis Hepatotoxicity Lead exposure
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. 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. 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. 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. •Lead exposure is persistent across the life course and can cause adverse hepatobiliary outcomes.•Therefore, it may play a role in the pathogenesis of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.•We investigate the association between the cumulative childhood lead exposure with steatosis biomarkers in young adulthood.•Higher cumulative lead exposure was positive associated with the percentage of hepatic triglycerides, AST, and ALT levels.

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25 citations in Web of Science
22 citations in Scopus

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UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#3 Good Health and Well-Being

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
International collaboration
Web of Science research areas
Environmental Sciences
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
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