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Blood lead, calcium status, and behavior in preschool children
D Laraque1, M McCormick, M Norman
1Division of General Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Pa.
Insights
This study found no link between calcium status and blood lead levels in young children. While blood lead levels correlated with pica scores, calcium measures did not differ between high and low lead exposure groups.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Environmental Health
- Nutritional Biochemistry
- Developmental Toxicology
Background:
- Elevated blood lead levels (BLLs) in children are a significant public health concern, linked to neurodevelopmental deficits.
- Calcium and vitamin D are crucial for bone health and may play a role in mitigating lead toxicity.
- Understanding the interplay between calcium status, vitamin D sufficiency, and lead exposure is vital for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between calcium status indicators and blood lead levels in urban Black children.
- To examine the relationship between calcium status, vitamin D levels, and behavioral scores, specifically pica.
- To determine if calcium status modifies the impact of lead exposure on behavior.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 64 Black urban children aged 18-47 months.
- Children were categorized into control (<1.45 mumol/L BLL) and case (≥1.45 mumol/L BLL) groups.
- Assessed calcium intake, serum calcium, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, bone densitometry, and behavioral scores (including pica).
Main Results:
- Blood lead levels were significantly associated with pica scores, as expected.
- No significant differences were found in any of the four calcium status measures between control and case groups.
- After controlling for confounders (season, pica, maternal education, sex), no significant differences in 25-hydroxyvitamin D or 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D levels were observed between groups.
- No interaction was detected between blood lead level and the covariates, and no relationship was found between calcium status and pica scores.
Conclusions:
- Calcium status, including intake and serum levels, does not appear to be associated with blood lead levels in this cohort of young children.
- Vitamin D sufficiency (indicated by 25-hydroxyvitamin D) was not significantly different between children with low and high blood lead levels.
- The findings suggest that calcium status may not be a significant factor in modulating lead toxicity or its behavioral manifestations like pica in this population.
Abstract:
To determine if calcium status is associated with blood lead levels and behavior, 64 black urban children aged 18 to 47 months were studied. Twenty-seven controls (blood lead levels, less than 1.45 mumol/L) were compared with 37 cases (blood lead levels, greater than or equal to 1.45 mumol/L) with respect to four calcium measures (calcium intake, serum calcium level, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D level, and bone densitometric findings) and three behavioral scores. Levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D provided a measure of vitamin D sufficiency. As expected, blood lead level was associated with pica scores. However, none of the calcium measures differed between cases and controls. Controlling for four confounders (season, pica score, maternal education, and sex), yielded no significant differences between the two groups in the mean values of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D level. There was no interaction between blood lead level and the four covariates. No relationship could be demonstrated between calcium status and the pica scores.