Lower blood malondialdehyde is associated with past pesticide exposure: findings in Gulf War illness and healthy controls

Abstract

Abstract Background Malondialdehyde (MDA) is a candidate general marker of oxidative stress (OS). We sought to assess the relation of MDA to Gulf War illness (GWI) and to a variety of exposures. Methods This is an observational study involving subjects from Southern California recruited from October 2011 to May 2014. MDA was assessed in 81 participants (41 GWI-cases, 40 controls). General and Gulf-specific exposures were elicited. MDA case–control comparison was restricted to 40 matched pairs. The potential association between MDA and exposures was assessed using regression analyses. Gulf-specific exposures were incorporated into a case-specific model. Results Plasma MDA was significantly lower in GWI-cases than controls. Composite pesticide and fuel-solvent exposures negatively predicted MDA in the total sample, as well as in the analyses that included either GWI-cases or controls only. Self-reported exposure to organophosphate (OP) nerve gas was a strong predictor for lower MDA level in veterans with GWI. Conclusion Past pesticide exposures predicted lower MDA in both veterans with GWI and in healthy controls.

Keywords

• Malondialdehyde
• Oxidative stress
• Free radical
• Gulf War veterans
• Gulf War illness
• Pesticide