Gestational and Early Childhood Exposure to Barium and Cardiometabolic Risk in Preschoolers: Findings From the Ma’anshan Birth Cohort Study in China

Abstract

Background Animal studies suggest cardiovascular systems may be primary targets for barium toxicity. This study aims to examine longitudinal associations of prenatal and early childhood barium exposure with cardiometabolic risk (CMR) in preschoolers. Methods and Results We determined serum or plasma barium concentrations during 3 trimesters, delivery, and early childhood (5 years) from 2291 mother–child dyads within the Ma'anshan Birth Cohort. CMR scores were calculated by summing standardized z scores for glucose, insulin, triglycerides, waist circumference, mean of blood pressure, and high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol among 5‐year‐old children. We employed multiple linear regression and multiple informant models to investigate whole pregnancy and stage‐specific associations of barium exposure with CMR scores and individual components and the modifying effects of sex. The ranges of log10‐transformed barium from the first trimester to early childhood were 3.39 to 4.61 ng/L. Barium during the whole pregnancy showed positive associations with CMR scores, glucose, and triglycerides and negative association with high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol. These significant relationships of barium with CMR scores were mainly manifested in the second and third trimesters. Positive associations were observed between barium during the second and third trimesters and CMR scores, glucose, triglycerides, and negatively associated with high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol among boys. In girls, positive associations of barium during the third trimester with CMR scores, glucose, and triglycerides and a negative association with high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol were detected. Conclusions Barium exposure during pregnancy, especially during the second and third trimesters, may increase CMR in preschoolers. Boys are more vulnerable than girls. These findings support the need for reductions in barium exposure during pregnancy.

Keywords

• barium
• cardiometabolic risk
• cohort
• early‐childhood
• prenatal