Associations between urinary heavy metal concentrations and blood pressure in residents of Asian countries

Yuki Mizuno,Budhi Gunawan,Hana Shimizu-Furusawa,Tran Dinh Lam,Sk Akhtar Ahmad,Yukio Ikemoto,Masahiro Umezaki,Chiho Watanabe,Makiko Sekiyama,Oekan S Abdoellah,Rajendra Prasad Parajuli,Shoko Konishi,Tsukasa Inaoka

doi:10.1186/s12199-021-01027-y

Abstract

BackgroundPrevious studies have suggested that exposures to heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, lead, and selenium) may be associated with differences in blood pressure. However, the findings of these studies have been inconsistent. This study was performed to examine the associations between urinary heavy metal concentrations and blood pressure among residents of four Asian countries (Bangladesh, Indonesia, Nepal, and Vietnam).MethodsThis cross-sectional study examined 1899 adults in four Asian countries. Urinary concentrations of heavy metals were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. A questionnaire survey was administered regarding individual characteristics. Anthropometric measurements (height and weight) were performed. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were measured after a short rest. Multiple linear regression models were applied to investigate associations between urinary heavy metal concentrations and blood pressure after adjustments for age, sex, and body mass index.ResultsThe geometric means of the urinary concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, lead, and selenium were 84.6, 0.885, 2.09, and 16.5 μg/g creatinine, respectively. The urinary arsenic concentrations were slightly higher than those typically reported in non-polluted populations, while urinary cadmium, lead, and selenium concentrations were equivalent or slightly lower. The urinary lead concentrations were positively associated with both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, but urinary selenium concentrations were negatively associated with them.ConclusionsVariations in the urinary concentrations of lead and selenium were associated with blood pressure at low levels of exposure/intake.

Highlights

Previous studies have suggested that exposures to heavy metals may be associated with differences in blood pressure
Se is a cofactor of glutathione peroxidase, a selenoprotein that acts as an antioxidative enzyme [14, 15], which can mitigate the toxicity of heavy metals by its antioxidative effects [16]
Urinary heavy metal concentrations among the participants Urinary As concentrations observed in the present study (GM = 84.6 μg/g creatinine) fell between those reported in As-polluted regions such as in Bangladesh (GM = 204 μg/g creatinine for men and 219 μg/g creatinine for women [47]) and China (GM = 288.4 μg/g creatinine [48]), and those reported in non-polluted regions such as in the USA (GM = 16.9 μg/g creatinine [49])

Summary

Introduction

Previous studies have suggested that exposures to heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, lead, and sele‐ nium) may be associated with differences in blood pressure. This study was performed to examine the associations between urinary heavy metal concentrations and blood pressure among residents of four Asian countries (Bangladesh, Indonesia, Nepal, and Vietnam). Exposure to toxic heavy metals, e.g., arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb), may be associated with individual variations in blood pressure [6, 7]. Se is a cofactor of glutathione peroxidase, a selenoprotein that acts as an antioxidative enzyme [14, 15], which can mitigate the toxicity of heavy metals by its antioxidative effects [16]. Glutathione peroxidase activity reduces lipid peroxidation, atherosclerotic plaque formation, and platelet aggregation [17,18,19]. Se intake can reduce the risk of high blood pressure

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