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Blood lead level association with lower body weight in NHANES 1999-2006
Franco Scinicariello1, Melanie C Buser, Meike Mevissen
1Division of Toxicology and Human Health Sciences, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), Atlanta, GA 30341, USA.
Insights
This study found that higher blood lead levels (BLLs) are linked to lower body weight and reduced obesity risk in children, adolescents, and adults. These findings highlight lead exposure as a significant factor in body mass regulation across age groups.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
Background:
- Lead exposure is a known risk factor for low birth weight.
- Previous research indicates a link between lead and adverse health outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between lead exposure and body weight in children, adolescents, and adults.
- To determine if higher blood lead levels correlate with lower body mass index (BMI) and obesity rates.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of NHANES 1999-2006 data for participants aged 3 and older.
- Utilized multivariate linear and logistic regression analyses.
- Classified overweight and obesity based on age- and sex-standardized BMI Z-scores and standard BMI categories; categorized blood lead levels (BLLs) by weighted quartiles.
Main Results:
- A lower BMI Z-score was observed in children and adolescents with higher BLLs compared to the lowest quartile.
- Adults in the highest lead quartile showed decreased BMI and a lower likelihood of obesity.
- A dose-response relationship between blood lead levels and body weight outcomes was confirmed.
Conclusions:
- Blood lead levels are significantly associated with lower body mass index across all age groups studied.
- Elevated lead exposure is linked to reduced obesity prevalence in children, adolescents, and adults.
- Findings underscore the public health importance of minimizing lead exposure for metabolic health.
Background:
Lead exposure is associated with low birth-weight. The objective of this study is to determine whether lead exposure is associated with lower body weight in children, adolescents and adults.
Methods:
We analyzed data from NHANES 1999-2006 for participants aged ≥3 using multiple logistic and multivariate linear regression. Using age- and sex-standardized BMI Z-scores, overweight and obese children (ages 3-19) were classified by BMI ≥85 th and ≥95 th percentiles, respectively. The adult population (age ≥20) was classified as overweight and obese with BMI measures of 25-29.9 and ≥30, respectively. Blood lead level (BLL) was categorized by weighted quartiles.
Results:
Multivariate linear regressions revealed a lower BMI Z-score in children and adolescents when the highest lead quartile was compared to the lowest lead quartile (β (SE)=-0.33 (0.07), p<0.001), and a decreased BMI in adults (β (SE)=-2.58 (0.25), p<0.001). Multiple logistic analyses in children and adolescents found a negative association between BLL and the percentage of obese and overweight with BLL in the highest quartile compared to the lowest quartile (OR=0.42, 95% CI: 0.30-0.59; and OR=0.67, 95% CI: 0.52-0.88, respectively). Adults in the highest lead quartile were less likely to be obese (OR=0.42, 95% CI: 0.35-0.50) compared to those in the lowest lead quartile. Further analyses with blood lead as restricted cubic splines, confirmed the dose-relationship between blood lead and body weight outcomes.
Conclusions:
BLLs are associated with lower body mass index and obesity in children, adolescents and adults.
