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Toxic metals and the menopause.
Marie Vahter1, Marika Berglund, Agneta Akesson
1Division of Metals and Health, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Box 210, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden.
The Journal of the British Menopause Society
|June 23, 2004
Summary
Menopause can increase women
Area of Science:
- Environmental toxicology
- Women's health
- Toxic metal exposure
Background:
- Historically, research on chemical and environmental pollutant toxicity predominantly involved men.
- Emerging evidence highlights sex-specific differences in toxicological responses, particularly during critical life stages for women.
- Data on environmental pollutant effects in women are accumulating slowly, necessitating focused research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the kinetics and toxicological effects of lead and cadmium in relation to menopause.
- To highlight potential increased risks for women due to menopausal changes.
- To synthesize current knowledge on metal toxicity during this life transition.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on lead and cadmium toxicity.
- Analysis of studies examining metal kinetics (absorption, distribution, excretion) in women.
- Evaluation of research linking metal exposure to menopausal status and health outcomes.
Main Results:
- Cadmium exposure may cause mild kidney and bone effects at current environmental levels, with women potentially at higher risk due to iron status.
- Improved iron status at menopause can decrease cadmium absorption.
- Lead, predominantly stored in bone, is released post-menopause, increasing women's risk of adverse lead effects.
Conclusions:
- Menopause is a critical period for evaluating toxic metal exposure in women.
- Postmenopausal women face elevated risks from lead and cadmium due to altered metal kinetics and bone resorption.
- Further research is crucial to understand and mitigate metal toxicity in aging women.
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