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Association Between Serum Trace Heavy Metals and Liver Function Among Adolescents
Daheng Yang1, Haobo Zhu, Hongjian Chen
1From the Department of Clinical Laboratory, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China (Yang), Department of Urology, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China (Zhu), Department of Infection Disease, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China (Chen), Department of Clinical Laboratory, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China (Dr Long).
Background:
Exposure to metals has been associated with liver-related disease. Few studies have explored the effect of sex stratification on adolescent liver function.
Method:
From the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2011-2016), 1143 subjects aged 12-19 years were selected for analysis. The outcome variables were the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase, and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase.
Results:
The results showed a positive association between serum zinc and ALT in boys (odds ratio [OR], 2.37; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.11-5.06). Serum mercury was associated with an increase in ALT level in girls (OR, 2.73; 95% CI, 1.14-6.57). Mechanistically, the efficacy mediated by total cholesterol accounted for 24.38% and 6.19% of the association between serum zinc and ALT.
Conclusions:
The results imply that serum heavy metals were associated with the risk of liver injury, possibly mediated by serum cholesterol, in adolescents.
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