Lead exposure and impaired glucose homeostasis in Chinese adults: A repeated measures study with 5 years of follow-up

Bin Wang; Wen Zhang; Chi Chen; Yi Chen; Fangzhen Xia; Ningjian Wang; Yingli Lu

Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety (Sep 2022)

Lead exposure and impaired glucose homeostasis in Chinese adults: A repeated measures study with 5 years of follow-up

Bin Wang,
Wen Zhang,
Chi Chen,
Yi Chen,
Fangzhen Xia,
Ningjian Wang,
Yingli Lu

Affiliations

Bin Wang: Institute and Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
Wen Zhang: Institute and Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
Chi Chen: Institute and Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
Yi Chen: Institute and Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
Fangzhen Xia: Institute and Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
Ningjian Wang: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Huangpu Branch, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Correspondence to: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Huangpu Branch, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 58 East Puyu Road, Shanghai 200011, China.
Yingli Lu: Institute and Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Huangpu Branch, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Correspondence to: Institute and Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 639 Zhizaoju Road, Shanghai 200011, China.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 243
p. 113953

Abstract

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Experimental studies suggest the diabetogenic effects of lead, but relevant data in humans are limited and have been primarily based on cross-sectional study design. We aimed to prospectively examine the association between lead exposure and glucose homeostasis in general population using repeated measurements. This cohort study included 5505 Chinese adults free of glucose-lowering medication use at baseline in 2014 and followed up 5 years later. Blood lead and glucose metabolic traits including fasting plasma glucose (FPG), fasting serum insulin, the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and HOMA of beta-cell function (HOMA-B) were measured at baseline and follow-up. Linear mixed models and linear regression models were performed to evaluate the associations between blood lead and markers of glucose homeostasis. After full adjustment for confounders including BMI, an interquartile range (IQR) increase in blood lead levels was associated with a 2.26 % increase in FPG (95 % CI: 0.16 %, 4.39 %) and an 11.3 % decrease in HOMA-B (95 % CI: − 19.1 %, − 2.71 %) in women. The odds ratios of hyperglycemia and beta-cell dysfunction corresponding to an IQR increase in blood lead levels were 1.39 (95 % CI: 0.99, 1.95) and 1.74 (95 % CI: 1.00, 3.03), respectively. Similar results were found for 5-year changes of glucose metabolic markers. Compared with the first quartile of baseline lead levels, the highest lead quartile was associated with an additional 3.03 % increase in FPG (95 % CI: 0.84 %, 5.26 %) and an additional 13.3 % decrease in HOMA-B (95 % CI: − 20.4 %, − 5.53 %) in women during follow-up. We observed no overall associations between blood lead levels and glucose metabolic markers in men. Our findings provide suggestive evidence that environmental exposure to lead might contribute to sex-dependent disruption of glucose homeostasis in general adult population.

Published in Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety

ISSN: 0147-6513 (Print); 1090-2414 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Technology: Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering: Environmental pollution; Geography. Anthropology. Recreation: Environmental sciences
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/ecotoxicology-and-environmental-safety

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