Association between pyrrolizidine alkaloids exposure and risk of abnormal serum indices—Insights from a descriptive cross-sectional study in Yunnan Province

Abstract

The hazard of pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) has been widely reported in animal studies but rarely in population-based research, especially reports about daily exposure. A single-centre descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 552 Lahu Autonomous County residents recruited in 2021. Blood PAs exposure biomarker (pyrrole- protein adduct, PPA) and serum biochemical indices were measured. The prevalence of abnormal serum indices and PAs exposure in this region were elucidated using descriptive analyses. 75% of Lahu Autonomous County participants were exposed to PAs. PAs exposure risk in males was lower than in females (OR=0.357, 95% CI: 0.222- 0.574), and varied with the ethnicity of Lahu Autonomous County. PPA concentration was positively correlated with serum alanine transaminase (ALT) activity (r=0.6263, P<0.01) and triglyceride level (r=0.2327, P<0.01); PAs exposure was positively associated with anbormal serum ALT activity (x2=99.629, P<0.001; OR=1.428, 95% CI: 1.293-2.319) and hypertriglyceridemia (x2=15.376, P<0.001; OR=1.629, 95% CI: 1.229-2.251). These results suggest that PAs exposure might be a risk factor for serum ALT abnormality and hypertriglyceridemia in the local population. This study conducted the first epidemiological study on PAs exposure in China and established the etiological hypotheses for health issues in Lahu Autonomous County.