Abstract P206: Prenatal Cadmium Burden, Birth Weight, And Offspring Adolescent Blood Pressure

Abstract

Background: Cadmium is a ubiquitous, toxic heavy metal associated with several adverse health outcomes, including high blood pressure, in adults. The impact of maternal cadmium burden on offspring birth weight and have not been thoroughly explored. We investigated associations of prenatal cadmium burden with birth weight and offspring blood pressure in childhood and adolescence. Methods: We analyzed data from 202 mother-child pairs who were recruited for the Early Life Exposure in Mexico to Environmental Toxicants (ELEMENT) study in Mexico City (1997-2000). Prenatal cadmium burden was characterized using maternal urine collected in the third trimester of pregnancy - continuous and quartile specific-gravity adjusted cadmium (log-UCd, μg/L). Outcomes were offspring birth weight and blood pressure (measured at age 7-15 years). Blood pressure status (normal, elevated, stage 1 hypertension) was defined based on the 2017 American Academy of Pediatrics Guidelines. Those with elevated or stage 1 hypertension were categorized as having high blood pressure. Linear and logistic regression models were used to examine associations, adjusted for potential confounders. Potential effect modification by offspring sex was assessed using interaction terms and sex-stratified models. Results: Study participants included 93 males and 109 females, with a mean age of 10.0 (SD=1.5) years. Median third trimester urinary cadmium concentration was 0.17 μg/L (IQR=0.12, 0.26). The prevalence of high blood pressure was 19.3% (39/202). Prenatal cadmium was not associated with birthweight (β=-58.94 grams, 95%CI: -138.07, 20.19), offspring systolic blood pressure (β=-0.90 mmHg, 95%CI: -2.87, 1.06), diastolic blood pressure (β=-1.21 mmHg, 95%CI: -2.68, 0.26), or high blood pressure (OR=0.64, 95%CI: 0.34, 1.21). We found similar results when prenatal cadmium was modeled with quartiles. There was no evidence of effect modification by sex for any of the outcomes. Conclusions: In the current study, maternal third trimester was not associated with offspring blood pressure or birth weight, however future studies are needed to confirm these findings.